D I G I T A L
M A G A Z I N E
JANUARY 2026
Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint USD Celebrating Local Food, Farmers & Nutrition Education!
E N R I C H M E N T
"Making a Difference in the Life of Each Child with Every Bite"
Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint USD’s Wellness Policy
Rainbow Beets | Cara Cara Oranges Rainbow Cauliflower | Milk
Iron
Vitamin K
Vitamin C
Protein
California
Rainbow Beets California is a top rainbow beet producing state.
Beets are a type of root vegetable known for their sweet & earthy flavor.
Rainbow beets are a mix of colorful beets - red, yellow, white & striped that grow underground.
Red beets are the
The majority of California's beets are sold fresh.
MOST common variety. California, beets are in season almost year-round. The sweetest beets are usually the smallest in size!
EVERY part of a beet is edible! Beets grow best in cooler climates with bright sun.
Iron Iron carries oxygen in the blood, supports the immune system & proper brain function. 2 forms of iron: Heme & Non-heme. Heme comes from animal meat and is easily absorbed into the body after eaten. Iron is found in EVERY cell of the body.
Non-heme comes from plant foods like spinach!
Non-heme sources of iron are best absorbed into the body when eaten with a source of vitamin C, like an orange. Iron helps muscles function by carrying oxygen to their cells.
Supports a healthy immune system.
Human blood is RED because of iron and oxygen reacting with each other. The body uses iron to make hemoglobin.
80% of the Earth’s crust is composed of iron.
Hemoglobin helps carry and transport oxygen in the blood to other parts of the body…like a backpack!
California
Cara Cara Oranges California grows 85% of all U.S. freshmarket oranges. California Cara Cara oranges are a type of is known for Navel orange that are pink inside! its Navel &
California is home to 140,000 acres of land that grows oranges.
Valencia varieties of oranges.
Cara Cara oranges have a unique flavor with hints of
California’s
“citrus boom” started in 1873 with navel oranges.
strawberries & roses.
Orange trees can live for over 50 years! California’s climate makes their oranges extra sweet. California's first navel orange trees were planted in Riverside, CA.
Vitamin C Vitamin C supports the immune system the body’s defense against infections.
ENERGY booster!
Vitamin C helps to heal wounds.
Vitamin C is also referred to as “ascorbic acid.”
Vitamin C helps keep you happy & healthy! Vitamin C is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help protect against damage caused by exposure to harmful substances in the environment.
The body cannot make vitamin C on its own - it has to come from food.
What do you call a vitamin that improves your eyesight?
A Vitamin C! Vitamin C is a very important vitamin for healthy gums & teeth.
California
Rainbow Cauliflower California is the largest cauliflower producing state in the U.S.
Cauliflower is a type of cruciferous vegetable.
Cauliflower can grow in many different colors white, green, purple, orange, brown & yellow! Cauliflower is made up of 92% water. White cauliflower is the most common type of cauliflower.
Cauliflower is sometimes called “cabbage flower.” Most cauliflower plants grow to be 1.5 - 2.5 feet tall. The B I G G E R the cauliflower head, the B I G G E R the flavor! Cauliflower is a cool-season crop & very sensitive to extreme weather.
Vitamin K Vitamin K supports proper blood function, bone growth & kidney health. 2 main forms of vitamin K: K1 and K2. Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin - which means…
The body has the ability to create vitamin K on its own.
Vitamin K helps the body heal from wounds.
It absorbs better into the body when eaten with foods with some fat like olive oil or avocados!
Vitamin K helps produce proteins that bind themselves to calcium - this helps build strong bones. Vitamin K supports heart health.
Vitamin K is found throughout the body in the liver, brain, heart, pancreas & bones. Vitamin K plays a role in proper blood function- specifically with clotting.
California
Dairy California is the largest dairy producing state in the U.S.
The majority of California’s dairy comes from the San Joaquin Valley region. California is home to over 1,000 dairy farms & 1.7 MILLION dairy cows. Holstein cows are the ones with unique black & white spots! Most California dairy farms are family-owned. In addition to milk, California is also the #1 producer of The average other dairy California dairy products cow produces including butter around 8 gallons & ice cream. of milk per day. Milk is California’s official state beverage!
Holstein cows are the most popular dairy cow breed in California.
Protein Protein builds, maintains and replaces the tissues in the body. Protein helps to transport & store nutrients throughout the body.
18-20% of the body is protein.
EVERY cell in the human body contains protein.
The body cannot store protein long term… which is why protein needs to be consumed daily.
Protein is made of molecules called amino acids.
Protein plays a big role in building and repairing muscles. Protein is a MACRONUTRIENT. A macronutrient is a nutrient that the body needs in LARGE amounts.
Amino acids are known as protein’s “building blocks.”
Protein helps maintain fluid balance throughout the body.