Creating Healthier Futures Through Nutrition Education

For four years, Kelly Alarcon has been sharing her passion for nutrition education with the Food Finders community. With a B.S. in Nutrition and Food Science from California State University, Long Beach, Kelly combines her knowledge of food and wellness with creativity to help make nutrition more accessible and engaging. This summer, she has been leading a five-week nutrition education program at The Youth Center, introducing children to the importance of balanced eating through fun and interactive lessons. 

Throughout the summer, Kelly has led nutrition education classes for youth ages 5 through 10. She strategically plans each lesson to be engaging, interactive, and simple enough for her young audience. By introducing foundational nutrition concepts and healthy habits, Kelly hopes the children will retain this information and feel empowered to make healthier, more informed choices as they grow. 

When Kelly began her journey in nutrition education, she never imagined that teaching youth would become such an important part of her work. She shares that working with children requires a dedicated team and is thankful for the support of Food Finders’ interns and staff. 

Throughout the program, Kelly has introduced fun activities such as Nutrition Bingo and Healthy Hot Potato. She approaches each class with a “fun first” mindset, creating interactive games and activities that encourage participation while helping students build a stronger understanding of nutrition. 

“I love their enthusiasm. They are always excited to be there, learn, and play the games.”  

Through this partnership with The Youth Center, Kelly hopes to make nutrition education more accessible for local families. She believes this five-week summer series can create more opportunities to teach children, parents, and families about the importance of balanced meals and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 

At Food Finders, we believe that food access goes beyond providing meals; it also means helping communities build the knowledge and resources needed to make healthy choices.  

Want to support programs that provide nutrition education and resources for local families? Donate below to help Food Finders continue making an impact in our community.