Healthy Plate, Healthy Planet Program at Acterra

Healthy Plate, Healthy Planet

Promoting easy and impactful ways to reduce our collective foodprint

In the Bay Area, food is one of the biggest contributors to the average person’s carbon footprint, fueling climate change. Acterra’s Healthy Plate, Healthy Planet Program works together with local Bay Area communities to promote two easy and impactful ways to reduce our collective foodprint: 1) Adopting a more plant-forward lifestyle and 2) reducing the amount of wasted food.

Become an Ambassador

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Join our Healthy Plate, Happy Planet Newsletter

application open

MEHKO (Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations)

MEHKO (Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation) is a legal program that allows individuals to run small-scale, home-based food businesses. This initiative empowers local entrepreneurs to prepare and sell homemade meals directly from their home kitchens, supporting economic growth and providing communities with diverse, authentic culinary options. MEHKOs operate under specific health and safety regulations to ensure the quality and safety of food, promoting local culture and entrepreneurship in a personal and community-focused way.

Apply to the Cook Academy and receive a $3,000 grant to start your home food business!

We're thrilled to announce the COOK Academy, a new education program offering each graduate $3,000 grant designed to empower home cooks to thrive in the culinary industry! This eight-week online curriculum will equip participants with essential skills to successfully operate their own MEHKO businesses, covering topics such as:

MEHKO regulations
Standard operating procedures
Personal vs. business finances
Menu pricing
Brand management
Social media and marketing
Food photography
And more!

Please note, COOK Academy is only accepting applications from residents of jurisdictions where MEHKOs are currently legal: Riverside, San Diego, Alameda, Los Angeles, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Imperial, Sierra, Lake, Amador, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Contra Costa, San Benito, Monterey, and Solano Counties, and the City of Berkeley

Learn More & Apply

With Climate Change,
Your Food Choices Matter!

Eating food that comes mainly from plants is not only healthier for your body, but healthier for the planet. If you are new to eating plant-based, try a plant-forward diet.

A plant-forward diet adds more fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains to your plate while also de-emphasizing meat and dairy products. Meat and dairy product portions should be limited, if they are on your plate at all. Over time, even avoiding meat one day a week (e.g. Meatless Monday) or opting to go vegan before 6 pm daily can make a huge difference.

Meatless Monday Recipes

Promote Low-Carbon Food Choices

Become a Healthy Plate, Healthy Planet Ambassador

As an ambassador you will promote healthy food and a clean environment in your community. You will guide discussions, drive engagement, post resources and tips, and create an environment where people of all backgrounds and dietary choices come together and feel welcome.

Become an Ambassador

Testimonials

See what people in the community have to say.

The Meatless Meat Up was a fun, educational and worthwhile event.

I was grateful and excited that I was able to move from the waitlist to the attendee list. I learned about induction cooking, how to cook plant substitutes for meat, about commercial meat alternatives, and about cookbooks that will make cooking tasty and healthy meals without real meat easier.

Program Participant