Sarah Gaete flashed her rainbow-colored wristband to a class of parents, children and educators as a reminder that adding a few greens, oranges and blueberries can make a difference in one’s diet.

“It’s not about what we can’t do,” Gaete said about healthier eating, “it’s about what we can do.”

Gaete, a registered dietician with the Riverside County Department of Public Health, led the Riverside County Champions Train the Trainers program on Tuesday at Vista Dunes Courtyard Homes in La Quinta.

Tuesday’s training was the last segment of a two-hour, two-day program funded by Community Action Partnership.

The program aims to teach parents, children and leaders of such organizations as the local YMCA and Boys & Girls Clubs about ways to eat better without breaking the bank.

“Making healthy choices is tough when you can go to McDonald’s and eat off their dollar menu,” said Paula Simonds, community program director of Family YMCA of the Desert. “But this is the first step in this community.”

(more…)