Food and Nutrition

Flourish

Santa Fe Family and Consumer Science

Learning how to prepare healthy foods, meal plan, and cook a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats can help lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, or other health problems. We provide opportunities for the community to learn about growing their own food or purchasing fresh food from the local Farmers Market to strengthen long-term healthy eating habits and healthier lifestyle choices.

Seed to Supper-A FREE Beginner Gardening series. Everything you need to know about getting started with your own vegetable garden taught by Santa Fe Master Gardeners and ICAN (Ideas for Cooking and Nutrition).

  • Planning Your Garden
  • Soil Preparation-for a healthy start to your garden
  • Planting Seeds and Plants-when and what to plant
  • Caring for Your Garden-weeds and common pests
  • Harvesting and Storage of your crops

In Partnership with Santa Fe Community College (SFCC), Container and Raised Bed Gardening Series will be offered at the Santa Fe Community College Innovation Center 

Join Host Dr. Michelle Stizza as she talks with Dr. Laura Bittner, NMSU Extension Health & Well-being Specialist, Professor, and Associate Department Head of Family and Consumer Sciences about Sun Safety: Learn, Spot, and Protect.

KSFR Podcast Sun Safety:  Sun Safety: Learn, Spot, and Protect

Kitchen Creations - A Diabetes Cooking School

Kitchen Creations empowers people to manage diabetes effectively through presentations and hands on cooking classes.

  • Reading food labels to monitor carbohydrate intake.
  • Measuring food portions.
  • Planning balanced meals using the 50/50 or Diabetes Plate method.

Next Classes Begin: October 2026  Call 505-471-4711 to register

Join Host Dr. Michelle Stizza in a conversation with New Mexico State University’s Diabetes Management and Prevention Program Team(Diabetes MAPP) Cassandra Vanderpool MS, RDN, LD; NMSU’s Kitchen Creations Program Manager, Dr. Lucinda Banegas-Carreon MPH, CHES ; NMSU’s National Diabetes Prevention Program Manager, and Lourdes Olivas, MA ; NMSU’s On the Road to Living Well with Diabetes Management and Prevention Program Team.

KSFR Podcast: Diabetes Management and Prevention Program Team

Join Host Michelle Stizza as she sits down with Laura McCann MS, RD, LD, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist to talk about healthier eating habits and community resources to help us eat healthier.

KSFR Podcast: Healthier Eating Habits

Want to learn more about growing chile?

Chile Chats

The Chile Chats will be held the first Wednesday of the month, 10 to 11:30 AM, Fabian García Research Center Classroom, 113 West University Avenue. Las Cruces Or online via Zoom - Meeting ID: 847 2251 5474.

Participation is free and open to anyone interested in learning about and discussing chile pepper production. Visit the Chile Pepper Institute website.

Food Preservation

National Green Chile Preservation and Food Safety Webinar presented by New Mexico Master Food Preservers

A 4-part webinar series on Freezing, Drying, Freeze Drying and Pressure Canning Green Chile Preservation

To view all the sessions and access the handouts, visit the Bernalillo CES NM Chile Resources webpage.

How To Guides

If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Stizza at (505) 471-4711 or email at mstizza@nmsu.edu.

Chile Hacks: Videos