Two kids, one grabbing for fruits

UC Davis Center for Nutrition in Schools – It takes a village

"They say it takes a whole village to raise a child—that´s really what is required to improve children´s nutrition," says CNS Co-Director, Dr. Sheri Zidenberg-Cherr. “We want children to realize that it feels better to eat healthier foods and to exercise. We want to give them the tools to make changes for life. Simply changing the food selection at schools and forcing kids to eat it is not enough.”

Co-Directors Drs. Sheri Zidenberg-Cherr and Marilyn Briggs established the Center for Nutrition in Schools at UC Davis to support the school community by providing research-based nutrition education programs and resources that improve student health and assist students in achieving their full potential academically, socially, and physically.

A wide variety of resources developed by CNS researchers are available on their website. These resources emphasize the following:

  • Lessons that empower students to understand connections between food choices, health, and the environment
  • Activities that include basic food preparation and development of social skills in group dining experiences
  • Science experiments that explore influences on food selection and the development of eating habits
  • Service learning that involves food systems and environmental stewardship
  • The role of agriculture in providing access to fresh, seasonal, locally-grown foods
  • Curriculum and instructional materials for child nutrition professionals in schools and child development programs, as partners in nutrition education

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