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 Farmers Market helps develop long-term healthy eating habits and healthier lifestyle choices.

Join Us For a Series of Classes on Food and Nutrition

Farmers Market/Kitchen Garden

These programs provide an opportunity to showcase how vegetables can be grown in a home garden, harvested, made into healthy meals, and preserved.

  • Nutrition Education
  • Healthy Growing, Eating, and Cooking
  • Food Preservation

Santa Fe Farmers Market

Saturday Market at the Railyard (Year Round) - Santa Fe Farmers Market

Kitchen Garden

We are looking forward to pop-up events when vegetables are ready to harvest!

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

Small Space Gardening/Preservation

Container/ Small Space Herb Gardens provide people an opportunity to learn tools to grow their own herbs, learn ways to preserve the herbs, and extend the harvest to enjoy nutritious dishes without adding sodium or sugar, and flavorful food throughout the year.  

  • How to use soil and composting methods
  • Planting techniques for soil and climate conditions
  • Nutrition, cooking and preservation methods of herbs

In Partnership with Santa Fe Community College (SFCC), the following classes will be offered:

Summer Lavender Class-special event at the Governor's Residence.

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).

Next Classes Begin: Fall 2026

Santa Fe County Extension Office

  • 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

Santa Fe Community College Innovation Center

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

Next Class Begins:  Fall 2026

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

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

Med Instead of Meds and Heart Healthy Eating and Cooking Classes

Interested in eating the Mediterranean way and in Heart Healthy eating, but not sure where to start?

The Med Instead of Meds class series will help you explore the Mediterranean Diet by discussing seven simple steps:

  • Change Your Protein
  • Swap Your Fats
  • East More Vegetables
  • Eat More Fruit
  • Snack on Nuts and Seeds
  • Make Your Grains Whole
  • Rethink Your Sweets

Great tasting and good for you!

Next Class Begins: September 9th at the Presbyterian Santa Fe Medical Center.  You can register online here Register Here

Stop by the Farmers Market at Presbyterian Santa Fe Medical Center on Tuesdays, starting July 7th, from 3-6 for local farm fresh produce!

 Heart Healthy Eating and Cooking Classes

  • Sodium and salt
  • Meal Planning
  • Healthy Eating

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