Our Sponsors

Bryant Almendares, a 16-year-old junior at Belmont High School, participated in the high school mentoring component of our LAUSD Healthy Schools Campaign. 

By the end of the program, the healthy eating tips he shared with us sounded more like advice you would get from a seasoned expert than a young high school student!

Here are 3 of Bryant's suggestions, which we can all incorporate into our everyday lives: 

• Be sure to read nutrition labels. Bryant says many of his friends have no idea what is in their food. Reading nutrition labels allows us to learn this important information, so we can then make the choices that will benefit our health. Knowing what's in your food is the first step to a healthier diet. 

• Cook for yourself at home. Bryant knows that when you eat at home and prepare your own food, you have more control over what goes into your meals. He recommends we treat going out to restaurants as a reward, to be enjoyed on special occasions. 

• Add a colorful fruit or vegetable to your meal whenever possible. For breakfast, Bryant likes to add spinach to his scrambled eggs. He also suggests that kids skip the chips and other snacks, and bring apples from home instead. 

Speaking of colorful vegetables...this recipe from Champions for Change combines whole wheat tortillas and a variety of veggies for a healthful, filling meal. 

When shopping for tortillas, look for 100% whole wheat or whole grain, or choose corn tortillas! 

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

4 (7-inch) whole wheat tortillas

8 tbsp (1/2 cup) nonfat cream cheese

2 cups shredded romaine lettuce or fresh chopped spinach

1 cup chopped tomato

1/2 cup chopped bell pepper

1/2 cup chopped cucumber

1/4 cup diced canned green chiles

1/4 cup sliced ripe olives, drained

Preparation

1. Spread each tortilla with 2 tbsp of cream cheese. 

2. Top with equal amounts of vegetables.

3. Roll up tightly to enclose filling and serve!

For more healthy recipes, visit www.cachampionsforchange.net.

"Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird. It's a plane. No, it's FRUIT MAN!" 

That's right, Fruit Man is the newest superhero on the scene, thanks to students in the Drama Club at William Jefferson Clinton Middle School. Their teacher, Ransford Doherty, helped them create a clever video that shares what they learned during the LAUSD Healthy Schools Campaign. 

Take a look at the adventures of Fruit Man, Vegetable Girl, and Super Grain Kid below! 

"The 6 Food Groups" by Clinton Middle School Drama Club