Texas MyPlate Food Ambassadors Changing Environments and Schools

Principal Investigator: Jacob S. Szeszulski, Ph.D.

A collaboration between the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) and Texas A&M AgriLife (Research and Extension), this study aims to train high school students referred to as MyPlate Ambassadors to promote equitable MyPlate education in rural Texas schools. Ambassadors will choose either a Civic Engagement or Mentorship track. Ambassadors in the Civic Engagement track will work on an environmental change project that could include improvements to their school’s local wellness policies or the addition of culturally relevant recipes to their school’s cafeteria menu. Ambassadors in the Mentorship track will work with Extension agents to teach the MyPlate curriculum to younger students after school.