VeggieRx
Nutrition Program
Learning how to thrive with the power of nourishing food
Our VeggieRx Nutrition Program is rooted in a trauma-informed approach to nutrition and wellness. We recognize that health comes in all sizes and that food is not only a source of nourishment but also a tool for healing. By understanding how life experiences and trauma might affect our relationships with food, we aim to create a supportive space that fosters healing. We honor the joy of foods that are important to our ancestors, traditions, and indigenous kin. With these values guiding our curriculum and offering VeggieRx Vouchers, we support our participants in building a nourishing lifestyle!
2,400 Attendees
engaged in our VeggieRx
Cooking Demonstrations
$61,000
VeggieRx Vouchers distributed
from our classes and cooking demos
224 Participants
engaged in our
VeggieRx Classes
*Data from 2025 Annual Report
Our Approach
- Participants receive “prescription” VeggieRx Vouchers to purchase fresh fruits & veggies at local farmers’ markets.
- We are building community with recipe sharing, storytelling and discussing flavors for individual and cultural preferences.
- We teach how to create nutritious meals, emphasizing fiber, whole grains, and a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables.
- Participants learn how to balance fats, salts, and sugars in their daily meals for better health outcomes.
- Participants learn how to read nutrition labels on processed and canned foods to make informed food choices.
- We emphasize the importance of eating nutritious food on a budget by highlighting seasonal produce to get participants excited and confident about shopping at farmers’ markets.
VeggieRx Nutrition Classes
Our VeggieRx Nutrition Classes are centered on offering nutrition knowledge that can be applied in our participants’ daily lives, providing ongoing support to motivate and encourage long-term behavior changes with trauma-informed care, and creating a safe space for building community with fellow participants.
- 8 live, virtual classes
- Classes in both English and Spanish
- Participate in guided conversations led by our team to expand your nutrition knowledge
- Gain access to an expansive library of healthy eating resources including cook-along videos, featuring culturally-relevant and seasonal recipes
- Receive VeggieRx Vouchers for purchasing fresh fruits and veggies from participating farmers’ markets
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
VeggieRx Cooking Demos
Join us at the farmers’ markets and other sites around the Bay Area for our VeggieRx Cooking Demonstrations to learn how to utilize fresh, seasonal produce with tasty, culturally-relevant recipes!
And for folks who attend one of our demos, you’ll get some VeggieRx Vouchers to purchase fruits and veggies to try making the recipe at home!
Community Nutrition Education Training (CNET)
Our Community Nutrition Education Training (CNET) offers a free 4.5 hr training for students or professionals in the field of nutrition and public health. The training includes topics such as nutrition basics, local and industrial food systems, trauma-informed approach, group facilitation, and planning a nutrition education series. Participants are eligible to receive a Certificate of Completion after completing the training.
Clinic Referrals
We partner clinics to provide holistic nutrition education and practical support through our referral program. By offering vouchers for fresh fruits and veggies at local Bay Area farmers’ markets, we align with the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) program and Food as Medicine philosophy to enhance community health and well-being.
Nourishing Resources
We’ve compiled a collection of resources to support your health and wellness journey. This includes materials featured in our VeggieRx Nutrition classes, along with nourishing recipes for you and your family, and more!
“I’ve learned so much from the VeggieRx Nutrition Classes! Now, I check calories, serving sizes, and daily salt and sugar consumption when I shop. The lessons on different types of fats were really complete, and I’m very grateful. This program should continue and reach more families.”
Lourdes, former VeggieRx Nutrition Classes Participant from Peninsula Healthcare District
