Not your average beet
ALL ABOUT
Meet christina:
Christina Esposto is the heart behind Not Your Average Beet. Born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, she grew up cooking with her Sicilian family, which continued her love of food into adulthood. After volunteering at a local organic farm in 2017, she ran her first kids’ cooking camp the following year, beginning the journey of NYAB. She has partnered with many organizations that share her passion for youth, food literacy, mentorship and community care. Her projects have extended into youth and adult camps and retreats for well-being, skill building and connection building.
Christina is a certified yoga teacher who loves to move, travel, and connect with different places and cultures. She’s happiest living in nature, cooking fresh, simple meals, and sharing food with others. She loves building, creating, teaching and being with animals. Her love for global foods and tradition drives her to integrate cultural recipes and ingredients into her classes.
WHAT IS NYAB?
At our core, we're a cooking program built on community, support, joy and care. Each class embodies these values while building life skills to foster agency and confidence. Classes are designed to build food-based knowledge and experience while having fun and working within a team.
WHAT WE OFFER:
Not Your Average Beet offers public, private, and school-based programs for kids, teens, and adults. Classes cover a variety of techniques, dishes and cultural themes. Day camps can include activities with movement, expression and social development.
VALUES
SUSTAINABILITY
LOVE
LEARNING
WHY WE DO IT
We’re here to empower individuals through food, helping them build confidence, skills, and a lasting sense of joy and connection in the kitchen. We believe that the work done here, both physical work in the kitchen, and the interpersonal skill building, will serve each child and adult and ripple outwards.
We know that self-sufficiency and life skills are essential for quality living. Food preparation and cooking builds agency- the confidence and ability to act independently, make self-directed choices, and feel capable shaping one’s own life and environment.
Working within a team and constructing recipes together allows participants to practice working together and recognize that work in partnership can create exponential results.
Learning about food and preparing dishes to enjoy is FUN and empowering, and we’re here to provide that for our community.
WHere we are
We’re based in the Hamilton area, but you won’t find us in just one place. Not Your Average Beet works wherever community happens: in family centres, schools, churches, and local spaces through partnerships that bring people together. We also offer virtual, in-home lessons and adult team-building sessions.
Collaborations are welcome so reach out if you have an idea or project!
Fill out our short inquiry form, and we’ll take it from there.
