Los Alamos Family YMCA Adds Kate Cleveland, Launches 6‑Week Nutrition Basics Course

The Family YMCA announced on Jan. 15 that it has added Kate Cleveland to its wellness team and launched Nutrition Basics: A 6‑Week Foundations Course, a science-based program focused on everyday food choices rather than dieting. The course is open to residents age 16 and older and is designed to build practical nutrition knowledge that can help families and individuals across Los Alamos County make informed eating decisions.

Each six-week session covers calories and energy balance, macronutrients, fiber, hydration, food quality, and practical eating strategies. Sessions combine instruction and question-and-answer time and include access to session recordings and supplemental resources. The YMCA said each six-week block stands alone, so participants can join mid-cycle; the first meeting window runs from late January through early March 2026. Fees and registration details were provided in the YMCA release.

For a community where many households include shift workers at Los Alamos National Laboratory and students juggling irregular schedules, the course’s recorded sessions and stand-alone structure aim to reduce logistical barriers to participation. The course’s emphasis on everyday food choices aligns with a preventive public health approach, addressing upstream drivers of chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Local nutrition literacy can also support parents, caregivers, and teens making independent food choices for the first time.

Access and affordability will shape how equitably the program serves the county. While the YMCA has made registration details available, fees may still be a hurdle for lower-income families or seniors on fixed incomes. Recorded sessions, flexible entry points, and community outreach to schools and partner organizations could expand reach, particularly for White Rock residents and multigenerational households that benefit from shared, practical strategies rather than prescriptive dieting plans.

The addition of a dedicated wellness staff member signals the YMCA’s investment in preventive health programming at a time when communities are grappling with rising health care costs and disparities in diet-related outcomes. Nutrition education offered in a community setting complements clinical care and county public health efforts, potentially reducing demand on medical services by promoting healthier choices upstream.

For residents interested in the course, the YMCA’s announcement included registration and fee information; those with limited schedules may find the recordings and stand-alone weeks especially useful. As the program unfolds, its impact will depend on uptake across neighborhoods, affordability measures, and links to broader community supports such as food access programs and school-based nutrition initiatives.