Celebrating 19 years of Transforming Lives: The Recipe for Success Foundation
CELEBRATING 19 YEARS OF TRANSFORMING LIVES
by Gracie Cavnar, Founder of Recipe for Success Foundation
In 2005, a simple yet powerful idea was born in Houston, Texas: combat childhood obesity by reconnecting children and families with the joys and benefits of fresh, healthy food. Nearly two decades later, that idea has blossomed into the Recipe for Success Foundation, a movement that has impacted over 50,000 children and countless families in Houston and beyond.
As we celebrate our 19th anniversary, it’s important to reflect on our journey, acknowledge our successes, and look ahead to the future with renewed energy and commitment.
Mission in Action
Our mission has always been to change the way children understand, appreciate, and eat their food and mobilizing the community to put healthy food on the table. We have empowered children to make healthier choices by making nutritious food more accessible and appealing to them. Today, our programs like Seed-to-Plate Nutrition Education™, the VegOut! 30 Day Challenge, and Hope Farms Urban Agricultural Showcase and Training Center are not only transforming lives but also shaping the future of our community.
The Seed-to-Plate Nutrition Education™ Program: Cultivating Lifelong Healthy Habits
At the heart of our work is the Seed-to-Plate Nutrition Education™ program, which brings nutrition and gardening education directly into schools. Since its inception, S2P has provided children with hands-on experiences in growing, harvesting, and preparing food. We have documented meaningful impact by collecting data on changed behavior. Children engaged in the Seed-to-Plate Nutrition Education™ program for an academic year are eating as much as 30% more vegetables and are more open to trying new foods. By teaching children where their food comes from and how to prepare it, we’re instilling lifelong healthy habits that combat childhood obesity at its roots.
But the impact of Seed-to-Plate Nutrition Education™ extends far beyond the classroom. Many students share the lessons they learn in our gardens and kitchens with their families, creating a ripple effect that benefits entire communities. These children become ambassadors for healthy eating in their homes, encouraging their parents and siblings to make healthier choices.
To date, our Seed-to-Plate Nutrition Education™ program has reached thousands of children in Houston and across the country, and after a brief lull during COVID, it has been embraced with renewed enthusiasm. Our dream is to see Seed-to-Plate Nutrition Education™ in every Houston elementary school and schools across the nation, ensuring that all our children can learn these vital skills.
“I will never forget this little boy that came to Eliot mid-year a few years ago.
He would come to my office and cry and cry, and I thought he missed his friends.
He said, “No Nurse, I miss my cooking. We used to cook everyday at my old school.” (Rodriguez Elementary).
It was that day that I knew we had to bring Recipe for Success to our campus in the very near future.”
LaShawnda Harris, Lyons Elementary School, Houston Texas
VegOut! 30-Day Challenge: Making Healthy Eating Fun and Accessible
Our VegOut! 30-Day Challenge is another cornerstone of our work. Launched as a fun and engaging way to encourage people to eat more vegetables, VegOut! challenges participants to eat 30 different vegetables in 30 days. The challenge has gained national attention, with participants from all over the country joining in to improve their eating habits. The healthy fun has even spread to families as far away as Australia, Ireland and Dubai. Thousands of players take the VegOut! Challenge each year.
VegOut! is more than just a game—it’s a movement. It has inspired families, schools, and workplaces to come together in the spirit of healthy competition, all while making healthier choices. The challenge has also been a powerful tool for raising awareness about the importance of a balanced diet and the role of vegetables in maintaining good health.
The success of VegOut! is evident in the numbers: schools across the country have incorporated the challenge into their curriculums, and businesses have used it as a wellness initiative for their employees. But beyond the numbers, the real success lies in the stories of individuals and families who have embraced the challenge and seen tangible improvements in their health.
“I did it! I’ve always been a veggie eater, but as
I learned, I was not a veggie variety eater …until now.
Thanks for letting us out-of-towners play along. It was fun!”
Melanie Torre, VegOut! Participant
Hope Farms: Growing Community, One Seed at a Time
In 2016, we took our mission to a new level with the launch of Hope Farms Urban Agricultural Showcase and Training Center. Located on seven acres in Houston’s historic Sunnyside neighborhood, Hope Farms is a beacon of hope and a model for urban farming.
At Hope Farms, we are growing more than just food—we are growing a community. The farm serves as a hub for education, training, and outreach, offering programs that teach gardening, cooking and sustainable farming practices, provide jobs and internships for local youth. The farm distributes fresh produce to needy families while delivering farm-grown food to doorsteps across the city, hosting a weekly market and producing public events that celebrate locally grown food. Hundreds of students visit Hope Farms each year on Field trips.
Hope Farms also serves as a training ground for the next generation of urban farmers. Our programs equip veterans, young people, and aspiring farmers with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in sustainable agriculture. By doing so, we are addressing food insecurity and creating economic opportunities in our community.
“The key is education. Educating community members
about how to keep themselves and their families healthy,
thats a win-win for everybody.”
Joshua Gibbs, Sunnyside resident
Looking Ahead: How You Can Help
Reflecting on our 19 years of impact, we are filled with gratitude for all we have accomplished. But our work is far from done. The challenges we face—childhood obesity, food insecurity, and the disconnect between people and their food—are still very real. That’s why we need your help to continue our mission and expand our reach.
There are many ways you can get involved with Recipe for Success Foundation. Whether you’re interested in volunteering your time, making a donation, or joining our board of directors, your support is crucial to our success.
Become a Donor: Your financial contributions make it possible for us to continue offering our programs at no cost to schools and families. Every donation, no matter the size, makes a difference.
Volunteer Your Time: We always need passionate volunteers to help with everything from planting and harvesting at Hope Farms to assisting with our educational programs. Your time and talents can help us reach more children and families.
Join Our Board: If you want to make a more profound commitment to our cause, consider joining our board of directors. As a board member, you’ll play a key role in guiding our organization and ensuring that we continue to grow and thrive.
Final Thoughts: Together, We Can Make a Difference
The Recipe for Success Foundation has come a long way in the past 19 years, but we couldn’t have done it without the support of our community. As we celebrate our anniversary, we invite you to join us in our mission to create a healthier, more connected world.
Together, we can continue to make a difference in the lives of children and families in Houston and across the country. Together, we can plant the seeds of change and watch them grow into a brighter, healthier future for all.
Thank you for being a part of our journey. Here’s to the next 19 years of success, growth, and positive impact.