Cooking 101 for College Students
Serving up lifelong skills.
If we want college students to eat less greasy pizza and, instead, develop the culinary skills needed to prepare a lifetime of healthful meals, institutions of higher learning should take note:
A recent study in Clinical Nutrition found that hands-on experience in the kitchen can make a difference. Investigators from South Dakota State University enrolled college students in a series of three cooking classes that gave instruction on how to prepare healthy, uncomplicated recipes, while also providing education on food safety and nutrition. Surveys taken before and after the classes showed a trend toward students having more cooking confidence and ability as well as a better grasp of nutrition knowledge. No word yet if such an initiative can stave off the freshman 15.
Matthew Kadey, MS, RD
Matthew Kadey, MS, RD, is a James Beard Award–winning food journalist, dietitian and author of the cookbook Rocket Fuel: Power-Packed Food for Sport + Adventure (VeloPress 2016). He has written for dozens of magazines, including Runner’s World, Men’s Health, Shape, Men’s Fitness and Muscle and Fitness.
