Free Nutrition Education Program

The Central Texas Food Bank offers a variety of free, bilingual wellness classes anchored in nutrition, cooking and gardening to organizations that serve low-income or food insecure populations. Our team of registered dietitians, degreed nutritionists and wellness experts educates parents of young children, school-aged children and youth, adults and older adults using evidence-based curricula based on current Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Classes focus on helping individuals and families adopt healthy eating patterns, integrate physical activity into their day and prevent diet-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. Most classes include a cooking demonstration to reinforce lessons learned and to try traditional foods with a healthy and tasty spin! 

Recipes

These recipes created by the C.H.O.I.C.E.S. nutrition educators are low-cost, healthy, easy to prepare and given a “forks-up” by nutrition class participants. Available in Spanish and English.

Cooking skill, not budget is the key to unlocking great food. Everyone has the right to good cooking, regardless of income. The recipes in this collection are lovingly designed and paired with tantalizing photos that show the plethora of exciting and inspiring food that can be prepared for little. 

Produce Preparation Cards

Blue/Purple

Fruit

• Blueberries
• Raisins

Vegetables

• Eggplant

Green

Fruit

• Apples
• Honeydew Melon
• Kiwi
• Limes

Vegetables

• Artichoke
• Asparagus
• Bell Peppers
• Bok Choy
• Broccoli
• Brussels Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Celery
• Chayote Squash
• Collard Greens
• Gray Squash
• Green Beans
• Kale
• Mustard Greens
• Peas
• Romaine Lettuce
• Spinach
• Tomatillo
• Zucchini

Red

Fruit

• Apples
• Cherries
• Dried Cherries
• Dried Cranberries
• Pomegranate
• Watermelon

Vegetables

• Beets
• Bell Peppers
• Cherry Tomatoes
• Radishes
• Tomatoes

White or Tan/Brown

Fruit

• Asian Pears
• Banana
• Dates

Vegetables

• Cauliflower
• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Potatoes
• Rutabaga
• Turnips

Yellow/Orange

Fruit

• Apples
• Lemon
• Mandarin Oranges
• Mango
• Oranges
• Papaya
• Persimmon

Vegetables

• Bell Peppers
• Butternut Squash
• Carrots
• Corn on the Cob
• Spaghetti Squash
• Yellow Squash

Free e-Cookbooks

Cooking skill, not budget is the key to unlocking great food. Everyone has the right to good cooking, regardless of income. The recipes in this collection are lovingly designed and paired with tantalizing photos that show the plethora of exciting and inspiring food that can be prepared for little.

Good and Cheap – A SNAP Cookbook by Leanne Brown

Schedule an In-Person or Virtual Class

All of our classes are available free of charge and require a minimum of 10 participants.

Hunger and health are deeply connected. In addition to providing access to healthy foods, the C.H.O.I.C.E.S. Nutrition Education Program offers a series of bilingual nutrition education and cooking classes that teach individuals and families how to shop for and how to prepare easy, nutrient-dense meals from budget-friendly grocery items and foods typically supplied through the Food Bank’s network of 250 Partner Agencies.

What you can expect when you schedule an adult or older adult nutrition class series:

• A four to nine week series (one class per week), each 60 to 90 minutes long.
• Lessons include the latest, research-based information from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and cover topics about physical activity, nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices, food preparation (cooking), and food resource management (saving money at the grocery store), eating a variety of healthy foods from all of the food groups, food safety, reducing fat, sugar and salt, and feeding children.
• Classes provide a variety of hands-on activities to reinforce learning and allow participants to apply the newly learned information.
• A food preparation activity, tasting, and physical activity are included in every lesson.
• Participants receive various incentives in each class (examples:  measuring cups, measuring spoons, pot holders, pedometers, water bottles, reusable grocery bags, thermometers, notepads, calculators, etc.).
• Classes are taught at your site and are available in English or Spanish.
• Minimum of 10 people in attendance, per grant requirements.
• All materials and food provided are FREE!

Organizations interested in hosting a class can fill out an interest form. For more information about classes in your area, contact us at 512-220-2709 or email choices@centraltexasfoodbank.org.