Stirring Up Salsa and Nourishing Learning
Our fabulous Child Nutrition Team—Lidia, Esthela, Hilda, and Francia—is now part of our Education Programs, working in collaboration with Early Childhood Education. Bravo!
Our ECE and Child Nutrition teams were already working collaboratively, and one example of their joint efforts is shown in the pictures. Staff from the kitchen and ECE participate as a group in the “Farm to School” state coalition, and they recently sent delicious salsa de la valentia y salsa de la resiliencia to our ECE families in Forest Grove.
The goal of the “Farm to School” coaltition is to strengthen the connection between families and the kitchen while making space for parents to feel seen and valued. “We want to share recipes that can be integrated into our menu and also create a bridge for families to share their own,” says Francia Yara, Child Nutrition Coordinator. “We originally planned in-person workshops, but considering the environment and the vulnerability of our community, we chose a more accessible approach by starting with a shared recipe.”
Francia shared that, “This project felt like a conversation rather than a lesson. Sharing a recipe opened the door for families to engage at their own pace and invited them to share their own food traditions. It helped build trust between parents, the kitchen, and the classroom—and that connection is at the heart of Farm to ECE.”
And why fresh salsa? According to Francia, “Fresh salsa is familiar, comforting, and rooted in culture. It brings people together because it feels personal and joyful. Making something fresh reminds families that food doesn’t have to be complicated to be nourishing, and that their everyday flavors belong in our program.”
We are thankful to each Child Nutrition team member for cooking and serving delicious meals for our children, providing nutritional education opportunities for our families, and enhancing the quality of our program. Mil gracias, team, for all you do for our children and families, and welcome to the Education Department!