Our mission is to educate about the benefits of eating locally, sustainable and seasonally. The beautiful [...]]]> This Holiday Season was certainly one of great generosity~our Christmas party hosted with the CARE project of SF General was truly successful and our presence their only possible through the MANY amazing donations of the local farms.

Our mission is to educate about the benefits of eating locally, sustainable and seasonally. The beautiful produce donated allowed us to create dishes that were delicious and healthy….reflecting just what this area has to offer. Often fresh food is looked at as a luxury~organics being priced higher than the produce you find in Safeway. However, when you calculate the nutritional value and the time and energies that go into bringing this fresh produce to you at the local markets, in the end, it is a bargain! Rather than having to eat 6 carrots to receive health benefits, you can eat one!

I spoke to a farm this week at the Heart of the City market in the Civic Center SF…they have been coming here for 25 years! The owners who grow and take care of the produce come personally to sell the produce. DeSantos does not use spray, however, are not certified organic and their prices are easily par with what you would find in the grocery stores. And you cannot get any fresher. They drive all the way from Fresno to bring this to us~fresh, colorful and delicious!

Here are a few pictures of our dinner and preparation….again, THANK YOU!! to those who donated~it would not have been possible without you.

~happy new year!~

Life Ingredients seeks to provide families and those experiencing cancer access to local and sustainable foods by means of educational tours and classes. We aim to create connections between [...]]]>

Life Ingredients seeks to provide families and those experiencing cancer access to local and sustainable foods by means of educational tours and classes. We aim to create connections between individuals, to foster a sense of comfort and familiarity with local markets and produce, and to promote long-term health and well-being.

THE PROJECT:

Life Ingredients is a project that brings families and friends of people experiencing cancer into the local market place and provides information about how to buy their own local and organic produce.  Educational material is provided about nutrition, seasonal items, and recipes as well as a simple cooking class that allows the participants to see practically how to use these ingredients in a delicious and nutritious way.

Our objective is to create a sense of comfort and familiarity with the market and the people who work there.  To understand what you can buy seasonally, how to choose it and finally how to prepare it.  Ultimately, we want people to walk away feeling knowledgeable enough so that at any time they can return and explore.  This provides the opportunity for people to bring healthy foods back into their households and to enjoy knowing they are also supporting their own healing and the local economy of sustainable foods.

This project is inspired by Anais’s brother Daniel, who passed away in 2007 from Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.  It is from this experience and herbackground working with local food and wine that inspired her desire to extend this beautiful resource to everyone.