EatWell Exchange

Only 2.7% of dietitians in the U.S. identify as Black or Hispanic — yet Black and Hispanic communities face some of the highest rates of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. EatWell Exchange is changing that by working directly with diverse communities to promote wellness through culture.

As registered dietitians, we believe that healthy eating should never mean giving up cultural foods. Our mission is to show families that the dishes they love can also support good health. Since 2017, EatWell Exchange has reached more than 65,000 people in neighborhoods including Liberty City, Little Haiti, Miami Gardens, Hialeah, Overtown, Cutler Bay, and Goulds. Our approach is simple: meet people where they are, and empower them to make small, sustainable changes toward lifelong wellness.

Our focus areas include nutrition education, food access, and culinary skills. We work with community gardens, food pantries, and community fridges to increase access to healthy, affordable foods while offering hands-on cooking education that meets the needs of every age group.

This year, we expanded our programs to reach even more residents through:

• Senior Culinary Classes at Charles Hadley Park, Shenandoah Park, Jose de Diego Park, and additional sites coming soon — empowering older adults to cook nourishing meals with confidence.

• Community and Adults-Only Cooking Classes, designed to strengthen community ties while teaching practical cooking skills to young adults and families.

• Garden to Table Culinary Program in partnership with Dunn’s Overtown Garden — a five-week cohort serving 13 families ranging in age from six months to 93 years old, learning how to grow, harvest, and prepare fresh, healthy meals together.

We also continue to lead youth culinary academies across middle and high schools, helping students learn how to prepare simple, affordable, and healthy meals that reflect their heritage. Our bilingual programs in Hialeah (with Amigos for Kids) and Little Haiti (with L’Heure Productions) have taught families how to prepare traditional Hispanic and Haitian dishes with a healthy twist.

Through these initiatives, we’ve seen families change their habits, seniors rediscover the joy of cooking, and children develop lifelong skills that connect them to their culture and their health.

Every dollar raised through Give Miami Day helps us continue and expand these efforts — keeping all our programs free for families and ensuring that health equity is more than an idea; it’s a reality for our community.

Here are some of our local features:

Miami Times:

https://www.miamitimesonline.com/business/the-thriving-business-of-health-and-fitness/article_618e46b8-de8b-11eb-a528-0b36beaafd6a.html

NBC 6 

https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/fueling-success-expert-offers-tips-for-building-easy-nutritious-school-lunches-for-kids/3396358/?os=___&ref=app&

Miami Herald

https://www.miamiherald.com/living/helping-others/article292036190.html