Hebni Nutrition Consultants, Inc. is a community-based, not for profit agency formed in 1995 to educate high-risk, culturally diverse populations about nutrition strategies to prevent diet-related diseases. Hebni’s mission is to provide culturally appropriate nutrition education and intervention strategies to prevent diet-related diseases. To further enhance our work, Hebni has incorporated the acronym H.E.B.N.I. (Health Education through Behavioral and Nutritional Initiatives) to show the organization’s reach and capabilities. Hebni is committed to reducing health disparities among high-risk minority populations by providing compressive nutrition related strategies to decrease, manage and delay chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, obesity, and hypertension.
For over twenty years, Hebni has provided nutrition education programs to low-income, underserved populations in Central Florida, reaching more than 2,000 African-American adults and youth each year through its diverse programs and educational tools. Hebni was founded by three African-American registered dietitians. Hebni’s programs, educational tools, and diabetes cookbooks have been featured in numerous media markets across the nation including CNN, Newsweek, USA Today, Today’s Dietician, the Orlando Sentinel, and “My Two Cents” on BET television. Hebni has also authored five cookbooks that have been published by the American Diabetes Association. Hebni’s K.Y.D.S. Take Charge program has earned Hebni the 2010 USTA Diversity Award, and the K.Y.D.S. program received an Orlando Magic Youth Fund Award in 2011 and 2013. In 2011, Hebni was awarded Sapphire Award of Distinction from the Blue Foundation of Florida for Hebni’s accomplishments in nutrition education programs for minority populations. Hebni received a Disney Helping Kids Shine Award in 2011, 2012, and 2013 for its K.Y.D.S. Take Charge program that reaches more than 200 minority youth each year. In 2009, with a partnership grant from the City of Orlando, Hebni construction of its Nutrition Resource Center (NRC) located in the heart of 32805 zip code area of Orlando. The NRC is equipped with four state-of-the-art commercial test kitchens, classroom space, conference rooms, and a nutrition resource library. Hebni offers easy access to nutrition education programs, free health screenings, healthy cooking classes, and nutrition counseling.
In 2015 Hebni, to further expand in its mission Hebni launched Fresh Stop Mobile Farmers Market. Fresh Stop is a repurposed bus that was created to serve food desert neighborhoods. The market offers fresh fruit and vegetables in community-centered locations and at budget-friendly prices. Fresh Stop Mobile Farmer’s Market offers fresh fruits and vegetables to food deserts in Orange County & Seminole. Fresh Stop will drive positive health outcomes and create a road map for generational change for families affected by diet related diseases including diabetes and heart disease.
