Bite Of Hope
Launched in 2019, Bite of HOPE was created to improve the future of communities that struggles with obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular ascular disease in Houston. By demonstrating the power that food has over health and by teaching communities how to make simple, cost-effective, and tasty meals, people can manage disease or conditions and will live healthier and happier lives.
Bite of HOPE’s mission is to build healthier communities focusing on integrating medical and culinary resources specifically in the neighborhoods that lack adequate access to healthy food.
Led by the HOPE Clinic, the program works to transform the foodscape in Alief and Aldine through the following initaitives:
1. Culinary Medicine
The Culinary Medicine Program uses food as a tool to help health care providers enhance the quality of patient counseling and tackle obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. By linking food and health and changing the dialogue between healthcare professionals and their patients about food and health, Bite of HOPE believes that chronic disease and obesity can greatly be reduced in Houston. The culinary medicine curriculum for providers is specifically tailored for low-income and food-insecure patients.
Program Series and partnerships
Cook with a Doctor Series
Partnership with Health Institutions
UT School of Public Health’s Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) and Sustainable Culturally Adapted Nutritious Diet Program (SCAN) implementing the food RX program.
MD Anderson cancer center to evaluate the impact of Bite of HOPE in the Small Business program, results are still pending.
2. Community Outreach
High School Leadership Program
The Bite of HOPE Leadership Program helps high school students further the knowledge on food and nutrition and community-driven solutions that are successful in reducing the prevalence of health issues.During a four-week virtual program, and under the leadership of the Bite of HOPE chef, participants grow their passion for healthy eating.
Virtual After School Program
The Bite of HOPE Virtual After School Program helps students and families embrace the importance of healthy cooking. Bite of HOPE believes that by empowering participants to develop lifelong healthy eating habits, chronic illnesses can be prevented.
3. Small Food Business Program
The Bite of HOPE Small Food Business Program is a month-long fast paced program specifically tailored for small food businesses.
Partnership with Baker Rippley
In partnership with BakerRipley’s Small Business Program, industry experts and mentors, this innovative program provides participants with the tools they need to start or grow a food business. Participants meet with Bite of HOPE chef to review recipes, menus, and sourcing options, and learn about the business opportunities around embracing their role in health and in keeping the community healthy.
Participants meet with Bite of HOPE chef to review recipes, menus, and sourcing options, and learn about the business opportunities around embracing their role in health and in keeping the community healthy.
4. Culinary Institute
The Bite of HOPE Culinary Institute is a fast-paced culinary program whose goal is to empower restaurant cooks, aspiring restaurant owners, and the general public with valuable culinary techniques, food service management, and the concept behind the power food has in health.
By building the core skills used in the kitchen – from culinary techniques, market sourcing, to the use of kitchen equipment, participants are ready to seamlessly start a culinary career or food entrepreneurship journey and succeed, while helping increase healthy food access in communities.