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An elementary school student looks at the USDA dietary guideline MyPyramid while NMSU Extension nutrition educators talk about the foods in each category and the importance of healthy eating habits.

ALBUQUERQUE Every student at Chaparral Elementary School in Albuquerque proudly received a certificate from the kIdsCAN program this year. They are among the 2,000 students in Albuquerque and 15,200 students across the state this year who have completed the nutrition program from New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service nutrition educators.

"Usually only one or two teachers in a school will invite us to teach the Ideas for Cooking and Nutrition (ICAN) program in their classrooms," said Donna Sauter, NMSU Extension home economist and Bernalillo County ICAN coordinator. "It was a real treat for the teachers and administration at Chaparral Elementary to see the value of teaching this program to all of the 731 students."

The school's principal was pleased with the program and has invited the nutrition educators back next school year to again teach the program to the entire student body.

The kIdsCAN program is the youth component of the ICAN program, which provides hands-on, needs-based education in the areas of healthy food choices, food preparation, food safety and food resource management to people with limited-incomes and resources. The youth curriculum is designed to meet educational benchmarks set by the New Mexico Public Education Department.

During four one-hour classes, the children learn about the USDA dietary guidelines MyPyramid and Choose MyPlate, the importance of hand-washing, how to read the nutritional fact chart on food

"The classes are taught primarily by paraprofessional educators, who are hired from the communities served by the program," Sauter said of the 11 nutrition educators working in Bernalillo County. "These educators have similar backgrounds to program participants and thus serve as peer role models."

Being able to work with the community is the driving force for the nutrition educator.

"I was a single mother for quite a few years," said Geraldine Herrera, one of the nutrition educators working with the Chaparral Elementary students. "I didn't know about any of these programs that I work with now that I'm with the Cooperative Extension Service. People with limited means and resources don't know of all these resources and beneficial programs that are out there, and are free."

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NMSU Extension teaches nutrition program to entire school