Start the new year with easy tips and delicious recipes for healthy eating

HOUSTON – Healthy eating doesn’t have to be complicated. Incorporating fresh, nutrient-rich ingredients into your daily routine is a great place to start. Whether you swap processed snacks for fresh fruit or experiment with colorful vegetables in your meals, the key is to keep it simple and sustainable.

If you’re unsure where to start, how to cook, or which foods are best for you, Hope Farms can guide you.

At Hope Farms, a non-profit seven-acre urban farm in the heart of Houston, you can learn simple ways to adopt a healthy lifestyle and cook nutritious recipes. From cooking to farmer training classes and making fresh produce accessible to the community, Hope Farms’ mission is to educate and empower the community to make healthier food choices.

WHAT ARE SOME EASY WAYS TO EAT HEALTHIER IN 2025?

• Try cooking more meals from scratch instead of relying on prepared or fast food.
• Prioritize eating fresh, locally grown vegetables: they taste better and are higher in nutrients.
• Build a healthy pantry to make it easier to whip up a quick healthy meal.

HOW TO BUILD A HEALTHY PANTRY?

• Start with spices like cumin, paprika, cinnamon, red pepper flakes, oregano, onion powder, thyme, and some spice blends.
• Add soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, a chili paste like sambal olek, jars of minced garlic, tomatoes, tomato sauce chicken or vegetable broth, and olive oil.
• Stock up on a few canned goods, like white beans, black beans, garbanzo beans, cannellini beans, tuna, smoked fish, clams, and dried pasta.
• Consider your freezer an extension of your pantry to save seasonal produce for later use.

CHEFS IN THE FIELD COOKING CLASSES

Recipe for Success Foundation offers classes that help participants connect with their food, from seed to plate, and empower the youth with skills to make healthy eating choices. Classes are held on the first Saturday of every month for just $5. Mark your calendar for the first class of 2025 this Saturday, January 4, at Hope Farms where the focus will be on remaking your pantry.

• Adult classes are at 11 a.m.
• Children’s classes are at 12:30 p.m.
• Location: Hope Farms (10401 Scott St, Houston, TX 77051)
• Click here for the complete list of cooking classes and registration.

If you can’t make it to the class this Saturday, here’s a delicious and nutritious recipe to try at home.

Tuscan Style White Beans

Yield 4 servings

• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ tsp each salt, oregano, crushed red pepper flakes, smoked paprika
• ¼ tsp ground black pepper
• ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, roughly chopped
• ½ to 1 cup vegetable or chicken broth
• 2 -15 oz cans of white beans, like cannellini or butter beans (lima beans)
• 1 cup chopped fresh (or frozen) spinach or other seasonal green
• 1 cup half-and-half or coconut cream
• ½ cup grated parmesan
• 2 Tbsp chopped fresh herbs (parsley, basil, tarragon or oregano)

Preparation

1. Flavor Base: Heat 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, 4 cloves garlic, ½ tsp each salt, oregano, crushed red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, and ¼ tsp ground black pepper in a large sauté pan or pot over medium heat. Cook for about 2 minutes, until garlic is fragrant.
2. Fillings: Stir in ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, ½ to 1 cup vegetable broth*, and 2-15 oz cans butter beans. Continue cooking on medium, uncovered, for 5 minutes.
3. Finish: Remove from heat. Stir in 1 cup chopped fresh spinach until wilted, then stir in 1 cup half-and-half, ½ cup grated parmesan, and 2 Tbsp chopped fresh basil. Serve warm

For more information about their programs, click → Hope Farms programs.