Student Health Services offers free cooking classes for students
Posted on: October 31, 2019; Updated on: October 31, 2019
By Caleigh McDaniel, stucomm@mailbox.sc.edu
Last Wednesday we joined one of Student Health Services' free cooking classes, “Happy Halloween! Kitchen Tricks and Treats.” The recipes for the class fit perfectly with the spirit of the season with vegetable pumpkin chili, pineapple turkey sliders and apples with caramel dip.
When choosing class topics and recipes, Student Health Services outreach dietician and cooking class instructor Lindsay Shazly says she focuses on “what classes have been popular in the past and feedback from students about what they are interested in, what they’re interested in learning and what they think is fun.”
“My main focus is to find recipes that have easy ways to incorporate more fruits and vegetables, because we have data that says that only 5% of college students are eating the recommended serving of fruits and vegetables,” says Shazly.
Along with being a great place to enhance your cooking skills and try new recipes, the class is a great community-building environment. Students work together in groups during the class and share tips with each other. The class ends with an opportunity for students to sit together and enjoy the meal they created. Students who have attended multiple classes say it’s been a fun and creative outlet for them.
In addition to helping students of all skill levels establish healthy habits, the classes help them save money by cooking more at home rather than eating out.
“For students with meal plans, I always encourage them to try the dining halls because there’s so much variety there and you can build your own plate so you’re not getting a preset meal,” says Shazly.
When looking for ways to incorporate fruits, vegetables and other healthy options into their diet, students can browse the vendors at the weekly farmers market on Greene Street on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
My main focus is to find recipes that have easy ways to incorporate more fruits and vegetables, because we have data that says that only 5% of college students are eating the recommended serving of fruits and vegetables.
Lindsay Shazley, outreach dietician
Another option for students, faculty and staff is Gamecock Pantry, which addresses food insecurity by providing assistance and other resources. Once registered, students can receive up to 15 food items per week and may be eligible for additional aid if they have dependent family members in their care.
For more information about Student Health Services and the free cooking classes, visit the Student Health Services website. Upcoming classes this semester include: Very Veggie Friendsgiving, Make One Take One: Crockpot Edition (Italian Style) and Healthy Sweet Treats.
Students can sign up for the free cooking classes along with other workshops on My Health Space. Make sure to sign up early, because classes fill up quickly.
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