My VISTA Story

Brighter Bites is a new program meant to create behavioral changes through education and access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Its founder and mom of two young boys, Lisa Helfman, found that having more fresh produce at home led her kids to make healthier choices. She has built a team to apply that same principle to Houston’s underserved populations. As a VISTA, I am responsible for taking Lisa’s idea and putting it into action. With a small team located at the Houston Food Bank (the largest food bank in the country) we serve 2000 students on a weekly basis for 8 weeks in the fall and 8 weeks in the spring. Brighter Bites supercharges the food bank’s own efforts to distribute more produce to combat hunger as well as obesity. Every week, the Brighter Bites students take home 30 pounds of fresh produce. We aim to give them a variety of items to expand their awareness of fruits and veggies. In the past we have included jicama, quince, kiwi, beets, kale, spinach, plumcots, and plantains as well as more familiar items like potatoes, onions, bananas, apples, and peppers. We want to expose them to new and exciting foods that they may not have the means to purchase on their own. In addition to fresh produce, the families receive recipes and food samples. We want to show them how to use these new items but we find that we are also learning new cooking techniques and recipes from our Brighter Bites parents. It is a give and take relationship. Without the parents bagging the produce and helping distribute it we would not have a program. Brighter Bites is a collaborative effort. Students are taught about health and nutrition through weekly CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Children’s Health) lessons at school. Parents are given a manual as well in the beginning of each 8 week cycle. This manual has lessons such as how to eat out, healthier cooking methods, juicing, snacking, and the importance of breakfast along with basic facts about each of the food groups. We believe that knowledge and access are the two factors which will produce a behavioral change. Each of the schools and YMCAs we go into have 90% or more of their students on free or reduced lunch. They are also located in food deserts. Brighter Bites began in 2012 and served 100 students per week. In our second year we have expanded to 2000 students per week. Next school year we intend to double here in Houston as well as move to Dallas by working with the North Texas Food Bank. As a VISTA, I am so excited to be a part of a program that collaborates with a great group of parents and students to work together to combat hunger. As a health enthusiast and foodie, I couldn’t think of a more rewarding program to develop.