Fall Session Class #4: Pumpkin Tamales & Added Sugar Awareness at Tonatierra

For the final class of our fall series at Tonatierra, we came together for a festive evening making pumpkin tamales with Chef Mario. Although we had a smaller group this week, the energy in the room was full of laughter, teamwork, and the joy of cooking together. Volunteers, parents, and students all jumped in to mix, spread, and wrap tamales—turning the class into a truly shared experience.

Alongside cooking, we focused on a key nutrition topic: how to read nutrition labels and identify added sugars. Many packaged foods contain more sugar than we realize, so knowing what to look for is an important part of building lifelong healthy habits.

According to the American Heart Association, children ages 2–18 should consume less than 25 grams (6 teaspoons) of added sugar each day. To bring this lesson to life, Chef Mario explained why he prefers to cook with unsweetened ingredients, like the unsweetened applesauce used in our pumpkin tamale recipe. Choosing unsweetened bases lets us control exactly how much sugar goes into our food.

As we wrapped up our final class of the season, we reflected on how meaningful this fall has been. Tonatierra has welcomed us into their community center with warmth, kindness, and enthusiasm, and we are deeply grateful for the partnership. We’re excited for everything ahead and look forward to continuing this shared work of building healthier futures for our kids and communities.

🍁 Thank you, Tonatierra, for a wonderful fall!