Articles by Hope Is Alive

Set Apart: How God’s Blessing Over Hope is Alive Makes Us Different

Hope is Alive

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Set Apart: How God’s Blessing Over Hope is Alive Makes Us Different

What does winning look like in addiction recovery? At Hope is Alive, success is measured in radically transformed lives.

Our philosophy reaches far beyond monthly or yearly sobriety milestones. Faith-based recovery programs are often met with skepticism, but HIA continuously produces real and significant outcomes.

Just like anyone and anywhere, those in HIA have their flaws, crises, and complaints. However, the default is grace, not condemnation.

Faith-Based and Christ-Centered

It all comes back to a simple — but not easy — piece of our Resident Culture Code: “Jesus is always the answer.”

Ally Lang, Hope is Alive co-founder and co-CEO, realizes not everyone is eager to open a Bible and start praying. However, that doesn’t change our foundation.

“We don’t force anything. We just tell them, ‘Hey, we’re going to talk about Jesus as the answer.’ And it’s funny what that does,” she said, referring to the transformations HIA has witnessed among people.

“I’ve seen God’s blessing on Hope is Alive through the individual miracles that have happened within our residents’ lives,” Ally said.

And while church attendance is mandatory for program residents, sitting in a pew isn’t the same as allowing the Holy Spirit to change and redeem you.

“It’s really tough to infuse God in secular things, but we have chosen to do that,” Ally said. “We believe the ultimate healer is Jesus, and that He is the answer to everything.”

No one in the program is required to be a Christian or prove their faith. And yet, to date, approximately 400 HIA residents have chosen to publicly display their new life in Christ through baptism.

“We’ve baptized so many people, and that is different from other recovery programs,” Ally said. “We’re not afraid to step into any mess or situation and say, ‘There’s a way out, and we’ll do it with you.’ We would never take faith out of our program.”

Not Wanting, But Still Doing

Even with God at the center of everything, HIA leadership knows firsthand the difficulty in kicking such a deeply ingrained habit. But not everyone understands addiction’s stronghold. Wives can’t comprehend why their husbands won’t stop drinking. Dads don’t believe their sons who say they can’t stop shooting heroin.

It’s often confusing and difficult to grasp the physiological components of addiction and how it rewires the brain and body.

HIA defines addiction as: “A biological, psychological, social, or spiritual disease that is, by nature, chronic, progressive, and fatal, ending in jails, institutions, death, or recovery.”

That definition narrows the line between “addict” and “everyone else.”

“People understand picking up work as a substitute for self-esteem,” Ally explained. “People understand their crutch on food as a barrier to having to actually feel their emotions. And if you can walk somebody through and help them understand, ‘Oh wait, I’m one step away from this myself,’ then they have more empathy for addicts.”

The apostle Paul speaks about the inescapable sin nature in every person: “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” (Romans 7:15) Sin nature only furthers the destruction and entanglement of addiction.

Instead of acknowledging this inherent nature, many recovery programs focus on genetic components, generational cycles, or childhood trauma. HIA, on the other hand, encourages residents to dig deeper. Rather than shifting the blame onto others, residents assume responsibility for their own actions as they discover the reasons behind their coping mechanisms.

Beneath the Surface

Hope is Alive started with co-founder and co-CEO Lance Lang’s desire to live in a like-minded, sober community, but his wife, Ally, really got into the weeds and turned it into a structured system. It transitioned from men attending 12-step meetings and living together to prioritizing working “process addictions” and holistic life change.

Process addictions, also known as emotional addictions, include codependency, shopping, gambling, eating disorders, sex and love addiction, and more. HIA residents peel back layer after layer of memory and trauma, discovering the subconscious motivations behind their behaviors and thought processes. They’re then provided with tools to change their behaviors.

“We consider substance abuse just a qualifier to get someone in the door,” Ally said. “Substance abuse is really not the problem. When I came on board, I wrote our program, and the belief system changed to working through process addictions. That’s kind of what sets Hope is Alive apart.”

It wasn’t easy to convince people that recovery is about much more than sobriety.

“I had to fight tooth and nail,” Ally remembered. “All these addicts were like, ‘No way. It’s just stop using and stop drinking.’ But when we implemented working through process addictions, we started to see all the spiritual bondage on our people. We’ve evolved by watching and holistically treating our people in the ways they need it.

“We say, ‘Hey, there’s nothing wrong with you, so come be a part of our community of similar individuals who are moving in the direction you want to go.’ Along the way, let’s unpack anything that might stand in the way of long-term recovery. And most sober living homes don’t even have a program to compare it to.”

Holy Work: Inside the Program

So what does the program look like in practice? Made up of 65 objectives broken down into three phrases, the tasks and goals are far more than a checklist.

Phase One is about creating a foundation. Some men and women are newly sober, coming straight from rehab, while more than half (55%) are fresh out of jail or prison. HIA gives an opportunity to start a new life to individuals who often have no good place to go. Residents begin by working the well-known 12-step program with a sponsor and attending regular group meetings. The social aspect of peer support is one of the factors linked most closely to lifelong sobriety.

Residents are also expected to maintain a job and/or be enrolled full-time in school or vocational training. They pay an affordable monthly rent and rotate household chores. The spiritual facet of the program includes reading the Gospel and regularly attending a local church.

“They have an in-house buddy for the first couple of weeks who shows them, ‘This is how everything works,’” Ally said. “They take them under their wing and introduce them to a biblical community. That’s important, because they’re going to build lifelong relationships around recovery, whereas before they had lifelong relationships around using and drinking.”

In Phase Two, residents are equipped with the tools needed for a lifetime of sobriety by working through process addictions and learning healthy coping mechanisms. They gain financial independence by using tools like Financial Peace University and establish their own community through mentors and church family.

Finally, in Phase Three, participants focus on giving back through servant leadership. As they near graduation, residents will serve in their church and also lead their peers within the homes. Grant Green, HIA Senior Director of Programs, graduated from HIA in 2021, and he’s seen the value of ministering to others.

“As alcoholics and addicts, we’re very selfish and self-centered,” Grant said. “When we do just hang around a little bit, we start to see, ‘Oh, when I help someone out, that kind of feels good.’ Now, I’m more open to a spiritual experience with God when I’m not just thinking about Grant all the time.”

Most men and women live in HIA homes for an average of 18 months — significantly longer than most sober-living homes, with stays ranging from 30 to 90 days. The longer a person remains sober, the higher their rate of success.

Sobriety Standards

Along with the requirements of the program are guidelines that protect residents and define the culture of Hope is Alive. Some of these rules include not being in a romantic relationship for the first year of living in a house, as well as staying sober.

“Typically, the number one thing that causes relapse in both addicts and alcoholics is a relationship,” Ally said. “The willingness to not be in a relationship for the first year of sobriety is pivotal to being able to work on yourself and not just replacing it with another addiction.”

There are over 200 medications banned from HIA homes as well. Staff are considerate of mental health and other health conditions, but they are intentional about their philosophy.

“It’s pretty radical, but we consider sobriety to include no mind-altering substances,” Ally said. “That means any sort of medication that would potentially change the way you feel.”

Agreeing to these stipulations involves submitting to a new way of life, which is not often easy.

“For most people coming into the program, it’s daunting because we don’t like authority and we don’t like rules,” Grant explained. “Structure isn’t something most drug addicts and alcoholics are used to, but this thing works because it’s exactly what we need.”

But the program isn’t all work and no play. In fact, the Resident Culture Code includes a key ideal of HIA: “Fun is required.” From ski trips to prom nights, HIA leadership intentionally celebrates sobriety and encourages residents to be proud of their new lives.

“People consider sobriety a death sentence for fun,” Ally said. “And we say, ‘No, actually it can be better. You can do it with your friends, you can be healthy, and you can call your family to tell them about it afterward.’”

The Family Connection

Phone calls to mom and dad are encouraged because the HIA family is not limited to only those in recovery from substances. HIA also ministers to families through Finding Hope, a support group for loved ones of addicts and alcoholics.

“Most of the time, they’re working through the same things as the addicts they love, because process addictions are passed down as well,” Ally said. “For example, maybe we learned to be a people-pleaser from our parents.”

Finding Hope is open to any loved ones of addicts, not just to people who know an HIA resident. In fact, sometimes a family member getting support through Finding Hope motivates an addict to get help.

“There are so many times where a loved one will go to a Finding Hope class for years,” Ally said. “They get healthy, learn things, and get tools in their tool belt, and then their loved one will get sober. We always try to connect parents and loved ones to the support classes, which is really their own sober-living recovery program to work.”

Family members are also allowed to come to intake, when a resident first moves in and agrees to work the program. They’re welcome to bring meals and visit their loved one.

“The addict’s family is involved in the recovery process as much as they want to be,” Ally said.

The Best Is Yet To Come

Any HIA alumnus will tell you that graduating from the program was only the beginning. But they also know their best days are ahead of them. Today, alumni have jobs ranging from real estate to ministry to entrepreneur. Many have earned college degrees, some have begun work with other recovery organizations, and others have chosen to pour back into HIA by joining the team full time.

Monthly meetings, group chats, and an open invitation to HIA meetings and events keep them in touch, especially since they consider themselves family. It also gives them an opportunity to encourage those still in the program — because they’ve walked in their shoes. Some alumni have even married each other (after graduation, of course).

“I feel like I’m the chief wedding and baby shower host,” Ally joked. “And that’s just life now, because we do all the moments together.”

Those big and small moments together have added up into (almost) unbelievable transformations. Men put behind selfish tendencies and put their families first. Women become mothers they never thought they could be. Sons and daughters start to respect their parents, and years or even decades of broken relationships are mended. And Ally Lang recognizes the driving force causing this radical life change.

“We’ve put all of our weight behind whatever God has called us to do,” Ally said, “because without God’s hand of blessing, Hope is Alive doesn’t exist.”

Hope for Mothers of Addicts

Hope for Mothers of Addicts

This is for the moms who might need a little hope.

We are a powerful bunch. Moms. We love deeply and move 90mph on most days, keeping all the balls in the air. We have hopes and dreams for our kids as they grow, and rarely stop to consider that it might not work out.

It happened to me. A single mom with a bright, beautiful, challenging son. And when the signs of his impending addiction began creeping into his daily life, I went into full-tilt mama-bear mode. I screamed, I yelled, I laid down the law to no avail. In the end, I just became tired, oh so tired, as I lay in the bottom of the river of denial. Wishing, hoping it was a mistake — that it was different, and that he was different.

But, I have since learned the power of this cunning and baffling disease that takes no prisoners, moms included. Addiction takes an emotion as pure as love and turns it on you like a knife. "You say you love me? Watch this!" as the money evaporates, as family treasures mysteriously disappear, as strangers show up at your door with sweet smiles of innocence and vacant eyes whispering in the back room during their five-minute visit.

And you know you are smart, that you are a good parent, but the crazies wash over you, and you begin to sink deeper and deeper into the river of denial. “Not my kid,” you say. “It's just a phase.” Then the darkness of reality begins to take over, and when you are alone, you crater. He could die. He could go to prison and want to die.

So you lie in the fetal position and cry, all the while asking, "How did we get here? What did I do wrong? It must be my fault." Then you rally, because you are a mama bear and your kid is at stake. So you make a plan. New friends, new geography, a meeting here, a counselor there — and the money flows out like water.

All the while, you grieve. You grieve the loss of the kid you had. He is gone forever. The addiction took him away. So you try to love and like and even know the kid that is left. And you send denial packing — it's useless — and embrace the awareness of what is left. You put down your weapons of anger, bitterness, and resentment. They have left huge battle scars on your heart. You ask for forgiveness from God, yourself, and your kid.

Then the healing begins. It begins with you, the mama bear. You put on your oxygen mask first, whispering prayers of redemption to heal your child, to heal you. You ask for a simple night’s sleep, for your job to be stable, for the few people who know your story and stick around anyway to never leave or forsake you. You take baby steps toward trust. You make plans for the day, not the year.

And you hope. You start to let go of the fear, to trust God, to trust yourself. And you learn that, although it may seem horrible, it rarely ever is if you have hope. And you stay in the shadows of others who have hope. The spirit of hope is powerful but not cunning, inspiring but not baffling. That is the difference. Hope brings us to our knees for all the good things we pray for. To never, never, never give up on ourselves or those precious babies we call our sons and daughters.

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For more information, visit:

FindingHope.Today

HopeAfterLoss.Today

What is Hope?

What is hope?

The last sentence in the Finding Hope motto is “There is HOPE!” But what IS hope? Or at least, what is the KIND of hope we need?

I believe there are two types of hope: Worldly hope and Godly hope.

When I think of worldly hope, it is a hope with a question mark. Hope? But when I think of Godly hope, it is a hope with an exclamation mark. HOPE! Which hope are you clinging to?

Worldly hope is…

based on uncertainty—on our desires, dreams, and ambitions.
dependent on circumstances or human effort. It says, “I hope this happens,” or “I hope things work out.”
at its core, fragile. It can be shaken when life doesn’t go as planned or when obstacles arise.
like chasing the wind: temporary, uncertain, and often disappointing.

The more we rely on worldly hope, the more we find ourselves vulnerable to fear, anxiety, and frustration.

But Godly HOPE is neither wishful thinking nor based on the unpredictability of life.

Our Finding Hope key verse is Romans 15:13, and it says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Godly HOPE is not based on our circumstances but on who God is. (God of hope)
Godly HOPE is rooted in faith — faith in God’s unchanging character. (Trust in Him.) We must have faith like a tiny mustard seed. Matthew 17:20–21, Jesus answered, “Because your faith is too small. I tell you the truth, if your faith is as big as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. All things will be possible for you.”
Godly HOPE is not shaken by the trials of life but grows stronger through them. (hope by the POWER of the Holy Spirit) James 1:2–3 The last sentence in the Finding Hope motto is “There is HOPE!” But what IS hope? Or at least, what is the KIND of hope we need? , whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

Finally, as Hebrews 6:19 reminds us, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”

Godly HOPE is not limited to what we can see or accomplish on our own; it keeps us steady in the storms of life. It looks beyond the present and rests in the assurance that God is in control, even when we cannot see the outcome.

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For more information, visit:

FindingHope.Today

HopeAfterLoss.Today

Unbroken: Hope After Addiction

Hope is Alive Awarded Big Rock Foundation Grant

Transformation After Losing Someone to Addiction

Transformation After Losing Someone to Addiction

I love the transformation from summer to fall. The changing colors of leaves on deciduous trees are so beautiful. Then to watch them “let go” and fall to the ground is such a beautiful example of a life cycle. It’s a season of harvest and cooler temperatures, with positive impacts on ecosystems and agriculture, as well as human activities.

However, along with the change from summer to fall can come some unsettling emotions. Before winter comes, we’ll have family gatherings and two of the year’s major holidays — and that’s before adding the emptiness, loneliness, and heartbreak left behind by the absence of our loved ones.

Personal transformation is, at minimum, very difficult. It can involve changes in beliefs and behaviors, and result from life experiences, self-reflection, or intentional efforts to evolve. Transformation based on life experiences that involve our loved ones’ absence, in my opinion, is the most difficult.

Finding comfort and hope in times of this type of transformation and sorrow can be, at the least, very challenging. The following scripture speaks to the idea that, even in the midst of grief and sorrow, there is the promise of joy and comfort that can eventually transform those feelings. It reflects the notion that grief is temporary and that with time, one can find solace and renewal.

“For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5

It took some time, but I came to believe life can be either a “burden and a chore” or a “challenge and a joy.” The choice is ours. Life can amount to more than a string of painful days. We must “let go” of the life we had planned so we can accept the one waiting for us. This type of transformation takes time, takes heart, takes faith, and when the light comes, as it always does, we must have the willingness to enjoy the flight.

Here are a few of the things I’ve learned since starting this transformation of living without Ben:

I am so blessed to have been chosen to be Ben’s mom.
Grief and recovery have no timeline, so be patient with yourself. The transformation is slow.
Grief and hope can co-exist.
Hope is my serenity. It can heal hearts and give courage.
God helped me through the most intolerable, unacceptable situation. He has shown me I will be okay. It doesn’t mean it didn’t happen, because it did, and it doesn’t mean it wasn’t sad, because it was very sad. But with His help, I will recover.
God is full of compassion and mercy.
My heart and soul will always be broken, but I believe Ben would not want me to carry the burden of his disease, choices, and mistakes.
Try to find joy in every day, no matter how small it might be. Learn to laugh out loud again and do so with no reservations.
Believe in “God Winks.” On rare occasions when something occurs that others may consider odd — for example, a familiar smell, a sound, an unexplainable light, a touch, a dream — consider yourself lucky and believe it’s your loved one.
Last but not least, God put things and people into place so I would be introduced to Hope After Loss just at the time I needed it most. I trust He will do the same for you.

So, as we go through this season of transformation, I’ll close with this verse:

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

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With hope,

Tammy Posey, Ben’s Mom

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For more information, visit:

FindingHope.Today

HopeAfterLoss.Today

HIA's Facilities Team Maintains the Standard of Sober Living

HIA's Facilities Team Maintains the Standard of Sober Living

It can be shocking for new residents — especially if they’ve had previous experience with sober living — to take their first step into a Hope is Alive recovery home and discover just how inviting, organized, and comfortable it is. In general, this standard of refinement is a far cry from what they were expecting.

This level of care is intentional. A warm feeling of welcome is essential to the success of the HIA program and is partially what sets it apart from other sober living facilities.

“Our primary purpose is to care for the residents in the homes,” said John Nutall, Hope is Alive’s Facilities Operations Manager. “It’s not simply keeping the home functioning — it’s caring for the home and demonstrating to our residents the level of attention and detail and maintenance so they know they’re cared for and that they matter.”

For John, this purpose was solidified before he was ever on staff at Hope is Alive.

“Being a former resident myself, when I first came into HIA, I wanted to get sober, but I wasn’t sold out that a faith-based program could do me any good,” John said. “But here were other people in the house who had some sobriety behind them, and it was a nice, clean, beautiful home. I’m a very clean person by nature anyway, so to walk into a home where the residents weren’t stacked like cordwood in there, the home was clean, well-kept, and well-maintained… it helped keep me in the home to the point where I graduated.”

Maintaining Hope is Alive’s 26 homes takes an incredible amount of work, but it’s work that is well worth the effort for HIA’s dedicated Facilities Team.

“We’re continually upgrading these homes,” John said. “New furnishings, new fixtures, ceiling fans, lighting, décor… we don’t want them to look dated. Nothing’s broken, the showers always work, the heat’s always on.”

Most (if not all) of HIAs homes were intended as single-family residences, and while each resident is treated like family, well, each home is like a big family of many people. Which means things like refrigerators, washers and dryers, and plumbing get more of a workout than in a standard home.

“That many people in a house is a strain on your plumbing system, so we’re always clearing clogs or snaking lines,” John said. “A lot of these residents haven’t experienced convenience in a while. They’ve been homeless or squatted for so long, so it’s a big thing to know you can take a shower and the hot water will be there or the lights will turn on when you flip the switch. A lot of people don’t think about those things, but to our residents, that’s a big deal.”

John relishes the opportunity to go into the homes and interact with those in the HIA program because he knows his testimony has a major influence on the residents he gets to care for and speak with.

“A lot of these residents know my story, that I was there too, so interacting with them is great. I don’t have to go into these homes, I get to."

If it hadn’t been for Hope is Alive and coming to this program,” he continued, “I probably wouldn’t even be alive. This program saved my life and gave me back something I lost decades ago, and now I have the opportunity to give back to others what HIA gave to me.”

The Gift of Jesus | Bible Reading Plan

A Hope is Alive Holiday Meal Inspired by The Healing Center

A Hope is Alive Holiday Meal Inspired by The Healing Center

At Hope is Alive, the holidays aren’t just a season — they’re a feeling. They’re the smell of something warm drifting through the kitchen, the sound of laughter around a crowded table, and the comfort of knowing you belong somewhere. They remind us why community matters and why gathering around a meal can be such a powerful part of healing.

That same spirit is woven into The Healing Center, a key part of our Hope is Alive family. The Healing Center is HIA’s upcoming addiction recovery center — a place built around the belief that healing happens when we care for the whole person.

Because food is such an important part of whole-person healing, this holiday meal was inspired by the principles that will guide The Healing Center. The Healing Center’s executive chef, Elijah Summers, has thoughtfully crafted this menu to reflect the kind of nourishment clients will experience at The Healing Center.

Appetizer: Cranberry-Glazed Meatballs

If you’re looking for a holiday appetizer that feels nostalgic and a little chef-y, these Cranberry-Glazed Meatballs hit the sweet spot — literally. A glossy, ruby-red cranberry glaze made with fresh berries, orange zest, ginger, and a whisper of cayenne transforms simple turkey meatballs into a crowd-pleasing bite that looks as stunning on the platter as it tastes.

While these meatballs are definitely party food, there are several intentional choices that make them more balanced than typical holiday appetizers.

Using ground turkey instead of fattier ground beef or pork:
- Lowers saturated fat, which can be helpful given how rich the rest of the holiday menu usually is.
- Provides high-quality protein, which supports satiety and helps steady blood sugar when eaten with the sweet glaze.
- Delivers B vitamins (like niacin and B6) and selenium, important for energy metabolism and cellular protection.
The ricotta, egg, and bread mixture (a kind of panade) makes the meatballs tender while adding:
- Calcium and protein from the ricotta.
- A small amount of carbohydrates from the bread to balance the protein and give a pleasant texture.
The cranberry glaze isn’t just sugar:
- Cranberries are rich in polyphenols and antioxidants, which have been studied for supporting urinary tract health and modulating inflammation and oxidative stress.
- Orange zest brings vitamin C and additional flavonoids.
- Ginger may support digestion and has its own anti-inflammatory properties.
- Cayenne provides a little capsaicin, which can gently boost circulation and metabolism in small amounts.

On its own, this recipe isn’t a probiotic powerhouse. But it does include ingredients that can play a supportive role for gut health, especially as part of a diverse holiday spread.

The polyphenols from the cranberries and orange zest often reach the colon partially undigested, meaning they can serve as substrates for gut bacteria, which break them down into beneficial metabolites. These metabolites (like certain short-chain fatty acids and other compounds) not only help support the gut barrier but also influence inflammation and immune function in a positive way.

Additionally, this recipe contains several spices that support digestion. Ginger in particular is traditionally used to support digestive comfort and mild inflammation as well as reduce nausea. Cayenne (in small amounts) can stimulate digestive secretions and circulation.

While these are subtle effects in appetizer-sized portions, they are still important health benefits that will be considered in every facet of The Healing Center’s clients’ diets because of how impactful they can be for recovery and overall wellness.

From a microbiome and metabolic perspective, starting a holiday meal with protein, spices, and polyphenol-rich glaze is typically better than:

Crackers and just cheese
Breads and creamy dips
Purely sugary starters

So, are you ready to give these Cranberry Glazed Meatballs a try?

Ingredients

For the cranberry glaze

1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 (12-ounce) bag fresh or frozen cranberries (no need to defrost)
1 pinch salt
1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
1 teaspoon minced ginger
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne, to taste

For the meatballs

2 large slices white bread, crusts removed, bread torn into small pieces (approximately 1 cup, packed or 2 ounces of bread, can sub 1/2 cup of plain breadcrumbs)
2 tablespoons milk
Generous 1/4 cup ricotta cheese
1 large egg
1 1/4 pounds ground turkey
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1 scant teaspoon fennel seeds
Flour for dusting, optional
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, or as needed

Cooking Instructions

Make the cranberry glaze:
1. Mix all of the glaze ingredients except the cayenne in a small pot. Mix well and simmer until most of the berries have burst, about 15 minutes.
2. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl, pressing the cranberry mush against the strainer with the side of a rubber spatula (be sure to scrape the outside of the sieve with the spatula). Add cayenne to taste.
Prepare the meatballs:
1. While the cranberries are cooking, prepare the meatballs.
  1. In a small bowl, add the torn bread and sprinkle it with the milk. Use a fork to pulverize the bread a bit.
  2. In a large bowl, use the same fork to whisk together the ricotta and the egg until smooth. Add the ground turkey, salt, thyme, fennel seeds, and milk-sprinkled bread.
  3. Gently mix with your (clean) hands until the ingredients are all incorporated. Don't overwork the meatball mixture or the meatballs will become too dense.
2. Gently roll the meatball mixture in balls about 1 inch wide with the palms of your hands and set them on a baking sheet or large plate.
3. Heat the oil in a wide sauté pan on medium heat. Working in batches, add the meatballs, taking care not to crowd the pan, and brown them all over. Use a fork to gently nudge the meatballs, turning them.
  1. Note that the meatballs will probably be a bit on the wet side, which may cause some splattering as you cook them in the oil. To reduce that, you may want to sprinkle some flour on the meatballs or roll them in flour, before they go in the pan. Add more oil to the pan as needed.
Finish and serve:
1. Once the meatballs are browned and the glaze has been strained, add the glaze to the pan with the meatballs. Let simmer, uncovered, until the glaze reduces a bit and the meatballs cook through, about 5 minutes.
  1. If the glaze during this process is too thick, add a little water. If too thin, let it simmer a little longer. Remove the meatballs to a serving dish and pour any remaining cranberry glaze from the pan over top.
2. Serve and enjoy!

Appetizer: Brûléed Brie Crostini

Built on crisp, buttery baguette slices, each bite of this delicious appetizer layers creamy brie and jewel-toned cherry jam under a glassy, caramelized sugar top. It’s everything people love about baked brie at Christmas gatherings, reimagined as a one-handed, pass-around bite.

While this appetizer feels indulgent, there are several thoughtful nutritional upsides packed into each bite.

Brie provides:
- Protein, which helps with satiety and slows the absorption of sugars from the jam and caramelized sugar.
- Calcium and phosphorus, which support bone health.
- Some vitamin B12, which is important for nerve function and red blood cell formation.
- In appetizer portions, the fat in brie also helps guests feel satisfied with a few bites rather than overloading on heavier dishes later.
Cherries, especially tart or dark sweet varieties, are rich in:
- Anthocyanins and other polyphenols, which act as antioxidants.
- Compounds that have been studied for supporting heart health and helping regulate inflammation and oxidative stress.
If the chef uses a whole-grain or partially whole-grain baguette, it adds:
- Fiber, which supports digestion and helps moderate blood sugar response.
- Complex carbohydrates for a gentle energy boost at the start of the meal.

This appetizer isn’t a “gut health” dish in the typical yogurt-and-kombucha sense, but it can still support the gut microbiome.

Brie is a soft-ripened cheese, and its rind is formed by molds used in cheesemaking (such as Penicillium species). These aren’t the same as the classic live-culture probiotics in yogurt, but traditional aged cheeses can contain beneficial or neutral microbes that contribute to microbial diversity when eaten as part of a varied diet, and the fats in cheese can help carry fat-soluble nutrients that support overall health.

Additionally, the polyphenols in cherries may act as prebiotic-like compounds. Many polyphenols aren’t fully digested in the small intestine and reach the colon, where gut bacteria help break them down. In return, bacteria can produce beneficial metabolites (like short-chain fatty acids) that help maintain the gut lining and support a healthy immune response.

Plus, it tastes good! It can’t get any better than that!

Ingredients

1 baguette, cut into 1/2"-thick slices
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup cherry jam
1 (8-ounce) wheel brie, cut into 1/3"-thick pieces
1/4 cup granulated sugar

Cooking Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread bread with a thin layer of butter and arrange on a baking sheet.
Bake bread until toasted and golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes.
Spread toast with jam. Place a slice of brie on top, trimming to fit as needed. Sprinkle brie with 1 scant tablespoon granulated sugar.
Using a kitchen torch, caramelize sugar.
Serve and enjoy!

Side Dish: Balsamic Roasted Carrots

These Balsamic Roasted Carrots will bring color to your Christmas table with almost no extra effort. Whole carrots are halved and roasted at high heat with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and a touch of honey until tender and caramelized, then finished with fresh rosemary and thyme. The result is a side dish that tastes as festive as it looks — and is healthier than you would ever imagine.

Even if the honey drizzle is modest, roasting concentrates the carrots’ natural sweetness without adding a lot of sugar, making this dish one of the more nutrient-dense, “everyday healthy” dishes on a typical Christmas menu.

For starters, rosemary and thyme contribute more than aroma. They contain polyphenols and antioxidants that may help fight oxidative stress in the body. These herbs also add intensity of flavor without extra salt, keeping the dish flavorful but not sodium-heavy. Additionally, balsamic vinegar adds acidity and depth with very modest calories.

That’s not to mention the other health benefits…

Carrots are rich in:
- Beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A, supporting vision, immune function, and skin health.
- Fiber, especially when eaten in larger, whole pieces, supporting digestion and fullness.
- Potassium, which helps with fluid balance and blood pressure.
Using olive or avocado oil instead of butter or heavy cream adds:
- Primarily monounsaturated fats, which are associated with heart health when used in place of saturated fats.
- Fat that helps the body absorb fat-soluble nutrients like beta-carotene from the carrots.

Needless to say, this is one of the more gut-friendly sides on a holiday table.

The combination of carrots, rosemary, thyme, and balsamic vinegar (from grapes) adds a variety of plant compounds and polyphenols to the meal — which gut bacteria thrive on.

Ingredients

2 pounds carrots, whole, washed
1 Tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or more to taste
1 ½ Tablespoons balsamic vinegar, plain or flavor infused honey
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped
½ teaspoon dried thyme or 2 sprigs fresh thyme leaves, leaves removed

Cooking Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remove stem from carrots and slice in half, lengthwise.
Arrange carrots on a baking sheet and toss with oil, balsamic vinegar, a drizzle of honey, and salt and pepper.
Roast for about 20 minutes, then remove from the oven.
Turn carrots, making sure to coat in remaining drippings, drizzle a little more honey, rosemary and thyme over the top and toss to coat. Use a paper towel to soak up any residual fluids on the bottom of the pan, allowing the carrots to roast instead of steam. Return to the oven for 20-30 more minutes, or until tender and caramelized.
Serve and enjoy!

Side Dish: Creamy au Gratin Potatoes

Our chef chose Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes as a Christmas side because it delivers exactly what guests crave on a winter holiday: layers of tender potatoes, sweet onion, and velvety cheddar sauce baked until bubbling and golden at the edges.

Beneath its comfort-food exterior, this classic casserole offers quite a few nutritional perks.

Russet potatoes provide:
- Complex carbohydrates, which are a primary energy source (nice for a long holiday day).
- Potassium, which helps support healthy blood pressure and fluid balance.
- Vitamin C.
- Some fiber, especially if you leave the skins on or use thin-skinned potatoes (even if this recipe peels them, the base ingredient is a whole food, not a refined starch).
Onions contain:
- Prebiotic fibers like inulin and fructooligosaccharides (FOS). These fibers help feed beneficial gut bacteria, even in small amounts.
- Antioxidant compounds (like quercetin) that support overall health.
The cheddar cheese and milk-based sauce contribute:
- Protein, which helps stabilize blood sugar and keeps you feeling fuller.
- Calcium and phosphorus for bone and tooth health.
- Vitamin B12 from dairy, which is important for nerve function and red blood cell production.
- Fat, which makes the dish satisfying, so a smaller serving can still feel indulgent.

Is this a “gut health” dish by itself? Not really. But in the context of a holiday meal, it can still fit into a gut-friendly pattern because of the benefits of the onions and the fermented dairy.

Onions are one of the classic foods that contain prebiotic fibers, special types of carbohydrates humans don’t fully digest but gut bacteria love. Those bacteria ferment the fibers and produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate, which help support the integrity of the gut lining, modulate inflammation, and provide energy to colon cells. Even though the onions are a smaller component, every bit of prebiotic fiber adds up over the course of a day.

Cheddar is a fermented dairy product. While it doesn’t usually contain the same level of live cultures as yogurt or kefir, traditionally made cheeses can contain beneficial or neutral bacteria from the fermentation process.

Ingredients

4 medium russet potatoes, thinly sliced
1 medium onion, sliced into rings
salt and ground black pepper to taste
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
1 ½ cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Cooking Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Grease a 2-quart casserole dish with butter.
Layer 1/2 of the potatoes in the bottom of the prepared casserole dish; season with salt and pepper.
Layer onion slices over top, then top with remaining potatoes. Season again with salt and pepper.
Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and salt; cook, whisking constantly, until raw flour flavor has cooked off, about 1 minute.
Gradually add milk, about 1/4 cup at a time, whisking well after each addition to incorporate; the gradual addition and whisking of milk will help avoid lumps in your sauce.
Cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture has thickened, 3 to 5 minutes.
Stir in cheese all at once; cook, stirring constantly, until melted, 30 to 60 seconds.
Pour cheese sauce over the potatoes, and cover the dish with aluminum foil.
Bake until potatoes are tender and sauce is bubbly, about 1 ½ hours.
Serve and enjoy!

Dessert: Salted Chocolate Tart with Kettle Chip Crust

This Salted Chocolate Tart with a Kettle Chip Crust is the dessert your holiday table has been waiting for. With its buttery crust made from sea salt kettle chips that cradles a baked semisweet chocolate filling, all crowned with a glossy layer of bittersweet ganache and a final shower of flaky sea salt, this dessert is the perfect blend of sweet and savory.

The kettle chip crust is the hook. Instead of a traditional cookie or pastry base, you get crunchy, salty, buttery chips pressed into a crust that contrasts silky chocolate layers. That salty edge makes the dark chocolate filling and ganache taste more chocolatey, using the same principle as salted caramel or chocolate-covered pretzels.

This is absolutely a treat, not a “healthy” dessert. However, there are elements that affect how your body handles it.

Using semisweet and bittersweet chocolate instead of milk chocolate increases the consumption of polyphenols (antioxidant compounds found in cocoa). Cocoa polyphenols have been studied for potential benefits related to vascular health and modulating oxidative stress and inflammation.

Plus, using semisweet and bittersweet chocolate also give the dessert a deeper flavor that allows the chef to rely more on cocoa intensity and less on added sugar for impact.

Between the heavy cream, eggs, butter, and chocolate itself, you also get a decent amount of fat and a bit of protein. While this makes the tart rich, it also slows gastric emptying (how quickly food leaves your stomach) and helps blunt the sharpest spikes in blood sugar you’d see from a sugary, low-fat dessert.

When eaten after a balanced meal with fiber, protein, and veggies, this kind of dessert fits more comfortably into the body’s metabolic rhythm than, say, a few cookies eaten on an empty stomach.

While no one pretends this is a gut-health superfood, even a decadent dessert can be part of a microbiome-friendly lifestyle when the bigger picture is right.

Cocoa contains polyphenols that are not fully absorbed in the small intestine, instead travelling to the colon, where gut bacteria help break them down. In return, these bacteria produce beneficial metabolites that may support gut barrier function and lower inflammation and potentially encourage the growth of certain helpful bacterial species.

From a real-world perspective, allowing for intentional, enjoyable desserts can reduce cycles of restriction and overeating. A stable, sustainable way of eating where most meals are fiber- and plant-rich, with occasional, satisfying treats tends to support a more stable gut environment over time.

Ingredients

For the Potato Chip Crust

8 ½ ounces Kettle Chips Sea Salt flavor (that's 1 bag worth)
5 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
¼ cup all purpose flour

For the Chocolate Filling

¼ cups heavy cream
10 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
⅛ teaspoon salt

For the Chocolate Ganache topping

8 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips
1 cup heavy cream

Cooking Instructions

For the Kettle Chip Crust

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a food processor, pulse the potato chips until they are finely ground. Add the melted butter and flour and pulse for 30 seconds to combine.
Press the potato chip crust into the bottom and sides of a 9-inch tart pan.
Transfer to the pre-heated oven and bake for 12 minutes.
Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.

For the Chocolate Filling

Combine the cream and chocolate chips in a medium pot over medium heat and warm the cream until the chocolate starts to melt. Whisk these 2 ingredients together until completely smooth. Add the eggs, vanilla and salt and continue to whisk until smooth over medium heat.
Once smooth, remove the pot from the heat and pour the Chocolate Filling mixture into the cooled tart shell and place it back into the oven and bake for 22-25 minutes.
Remove it from the oven and let cool for 30 minutes.

For the Chocolate Ganache topping

Heat the cream in a small saucepan and add the chocolate. Whisk together over medium heat until the mixture is smooth and all the chocolate has melted.
Pour this mixture over the middle of the chocolate tart and use an offset spatula to spread it around in a swoopy motion.
Let the entire tart chill in the refrigerator until cold.
Dust with flaky sea salt before slicing and serving.

A Holiday Meal Inspired by The Healing Center

At Hope is Alive, we believe healing happens in the everyday moments, including around kitchen tables. This holiday menu, inspired by the future heart of The Healing Center, reflects exactly that.

This is the kind of care our clients will experience inside The Healing Center. Thoughtful. Restorative. Whole-person focused. The same heart that goes into a holiday meal will go into every moment of their recovery.

As you gather with the people you love this season, we hope these recipes spark conversations, create memories, and remind you of the hope that is alive in all of us.