DIANE BECHEN instructs students on cooking healthy meals.

Diane Bechen, SDSU Nutrition Assistant, is facilitating nutrition classes at Sanborn Central. During the first semester, she taught seventh grade, and this semester grades eight and nine are receiving instruction with six 40-minute sessions. Diane Bechen acts as an instructor for the Expanded Food and Nutrition Educational Program.  This youth component uses evidence-based curriculums such as “Kids in the Kitchen”, which encourages kids ages 6-15 to eat healthier meals and snacks as a result of hands-on cooking experiences.  The program includes everything from following instructions  to washing your hands to the USDA My Plate.  The program helps the students to become more independent in the kitchen. Each lesson includes kid-friendly handouts such as recipes and tips for how to use kitchen equipment safely.