Sabrina L. Castaneda, NDTR, is a highly regarded expert in health and nutrition, recognized for her contributions to children’s well-being. She currently excels as a health and nutrition specialist with the Arizona Department of Education, where she has been dedicated to improving children’s nutritional well-being since 2022. In this capacity, she leads efforts to revamp the onboarding process for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), focusing on preschool and in-home daycare programs. She also oversees the preschool food program, conducting one-on-one meetings with clients and preschools to ensure smooth operations and maximize revenue for nutritious meals. Her expertise in establishing effective routines and structures has been instrumental in restoring systems disrupted during the pandemic, supporting statewide operations and knowledge dissemination.
Ms. Castaneda’s experience also includes roles as a program project specialist at the Arizona Department of Education in 2022 and nutritionist with Pinal County Public Health from 2020 to 2022. From 2019 to 2020, she worked as a dietetic technician with Maricopa County Public Health and worked as a quality assurance technician at Alpine Valley Bread Company in 2019. She also held an internship as a school nutrition specialist with Paradise Valley Unified School District in 2019, food service worker with ARAMARK Higher Education from 2017 to 2019, and health and wellness promotion assistant at ASU Health Services from 2016 to 2017.
Laying a solid educational foundation, Ms. Castaneda earned a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from Arizona State University, College of Health Solutions, in 2018. She also completed coursework at the University of California, Bakersfield. Moreover, she holds a nutrition and dietetics technician registered certification. She also dedicated her time to civic activities, volunteering with Devils in Disguise since 2016 and participating in charity work through LifePoint Church.
Ms. Castaneda is deeply committed to early childhood health and community well-being, particularly in addressing inadequate nutrition. She notes that many individuals, especially children and pregnant women, face food insecurity due to financial constraints. She is currently working to establish systems that facilitate statewide operations, ensuring tasks are completed efficiently while effectively disseminating knowledge to the field.
Ms. Castaneda considers her greatest professional achievement to be her impact on CACFP sponsors. Recognizing their administrative challenges, she helps them navigate the program, streamline processes, and overcome obstacles. During a recent visit, she reassured a hesitant preschool, emphasizing her role in building a sustainable program that benefits children. She takes pride in knowing her work makes a meaningful difference in the lives of children and their families.
Ms. Castaneda attributes her success to her strong desire to help others, ensuring children receive nutritious meals that support their growth. Once more passive, she now takes an active role in driving change, embracing her responsibility to initiate improvements. Outside of her career, she enjoys time with her family and two children, as well as cooking, reading, and listening to audiobooks. Looking to the future, she plans to enhance the Arizona Department’s CACFP website for a more user-friendly experience and aspires to take on a leadership role to support fellow specialists.