What’s for dinner?For many cultures, the answer includes staples and recipes that aren’t always the healthiest options. And it’s not easy to find Black or Hispanic nutritionists.That is until you walk into the kitchen at Hebni Nutrition in Orlando. The non-profit has made it their mission to revolutionize menus and change lives.At Hebni, no one leaves the kitchen without learning something new.WESH 2’s Nancy Alvarez got a lesson on how to make protein-packed scrambled eggs.”Wait until they see this story and see me putting cottage cheese in here,” Alvarez said. “My kids are going to be like, ‘Don’t come home with that!’””Don’t tell them!” Hebni founder Roniece Weaver said. “That is a hard-core rule in this building. When you have to sneak something healthy, don’t tell them. Let them eat it and enjoy it, and then spring it on them.”The lessons here have grown in ways Weaver and fellow Hebni founded Fabiola Gaines never imagined. When they started, just being in the field of nutrition was groundbreaking. Even now, only about 3% of registered dieticians in the U.S. are Black.This year marks 30 years for the nonprofit that’s revolutionized how thousands of people eat, all while keeping cultural staples front and center.”You talk to an African American who’s diabetic, and you telling them to eat asparagus instead of collard greens, they’re going to say, OK, and go and put the ham hocks and all the bacon and all the things in that collard greens, and totally ignore you,” Gaines said. “We did at Hebni find a better way to eat collard greens, and they will taste delicious.””When you see a dietician who looks like you from the same culture, we do better,” Weaver said.In three decades, Hebni has published cookbooks, expanded classes and programs, and added a mobile farmers market they take straight into food deserts.”It makes no sense for your zip code to define your health outcomes. You don’t want transportation to be the reason why you can’t eat better. So we bring that market to the communities,” Weaver said.Every evolution has produced life-changing results.Monique Scott was pre-diabetic and anemic when she started attending programs at Hebni two years ago with her friend, Angenita Smith.”I brought my son as well because his dad was diabetic, and I didn’t want the same to happen to him,” Smith said.They joined the Healthy Souls Walking Club and learned new ways to cook.The results have been positive.Scott is in good health, and Smith has lost weight. Both share the lessons and recipes with their children, ensuring that Hebni’s impact endures for future generations.”Do you guys realize that you’ve saved lives?” Alvarez asked.”I wish we knew how many. But I’m sure we created an impact,” Weaver replied. “Yeah, because we get people thinking about it,” Gaines said. “And understanding that we’re here. You can just walk through that door. You don’t have to pay us $750 to see a dietician. Just walk through the door. That’s all you have to do.”Hebni Nutrition has also expanded to reach more people by bringing in Spanish and Creole nutritionists.To make an appointment and request one of those languages, click here.
What’s for dinner?
For many cultures, the answer includes staples and recipes that aren’t always the healthiest options. And it’s not easy to find Black or Hispanic nutritionists.
That is until you walk into the kitchen at Hebni Nutrition in Orlando. The non-profit has made it their mission to revolutionize menus and change lives.
At Hebni, no one leaves the kitchen without learning something new.
WESH 2’s Nancy Alvarez got a lesson on how to make protein-packed scrambled eggs.
“Wait until they see this story and see me putting cottage cheese in here,” Alvarez said. “My kids are going to be like, ‘Don’t come home with that!’”
“Don’t tell them!” Hebni founder Roniece Weaver said. “That is a hard-core rule in this building. When you have to sneak something healthy, don’t tell them. Let them eat it and enjoy it, and then spring it on them.”
The lessons here have grown in ways Weaver and fellow Hebni founded Fabiola Gaines never imagined.
When they started, just being in the field of nutrition was groundbreaking. Even now, only about 3% of registered dieticians in the U.S. are Black.
This year marks 30 years for the nonprofit that’s revolutionized how thousands of people eat, all while keeping cultural staples front and center.
“You talk to an African American who’s diabetic, and you telling them to eat asparagus instead of collard greens, they’re going to say, OK, and go and put the ham hocks and all the bacon and all the things in that collard greens, and totally ignore you,” Gaines said. “We did at Hebni find a better way to eat collard greens, and they will taste delicious.”
“When you see a dietician who looks like you from the same culture, we do better,” Weaver said.
In three decades, Hebni has published cookbooks, expanded classes and programs, and added a mobile farmers market they take straight into food deserts.
“It makes no sense for your zip code to define your health outcomes. You don’t want transportation to be the reason why you can’t eat better. So we bring that market to the communities,” Weaver said.
Every evolution has produced life-changing results.
Monique Scott was pre-diabetic and anemic when she started attending programs at Hebni two years ago with her friend, Angenita Smith.
“I brought my son as well because his dad was diabetic, and I didn’t want the same to happen to him,” Smith said.
They joined the Healthy Souls Walking Club and learned new ways to cook.
The results have been positive.
Scott is in good health, and Smith has lost weight. Both share the lessons and recipes with their children, ensuring that Hebni’s impact endures for future generations.
“Do you guys realize that you’ve saved lives?” Alvarez asked.
“I wish we knew how many. But I’m sure we created an impact,” Weaver replied.
“Yeah, because we get people thinking about it,” Gaines said. “And understanding that we’re here. You can just walk through that door. You don’t have to pay us $750 to see a dietician. Just walk through the door. That’s all you have to do.”
Hebni Nutrition has also expanded to reach more people by bringing in Spanish and Creole nutritionists.
To make an appointment and request one of those languages, click here.
