Students may not be cooking in Gearing Hall, the iconic home of UT Nutrition, but that doesn't stop food production! UT's Department of Nutritional Sciences is providing crucial space in our teaching kitchens for a special project designed to provide meals for the healthcare workers in the Austin area and surrounding community.
The project is being funded by John Paul DeJoria, a longtime friend and supporter of UT Austin, and his Peace Love & Happiness Foundation. The Love, Peace, and Happiness Foundation supports a variety of local, regional, and global causes, including programs that focus on delivering healthy food to those who need it most. A great local example of the Love, Peace, and Happiness Foundation at work is Mobile Loaves & Fishes, a local Austin program that helps to feed people struggling with homelessness.The foundation's work does not stop in Austin, as it also supports Grow Appalachia, a program that helps teach and support families to sustainably grow food in the Appalachian region.
For the current effort, the meals are being prepared by Chef Judd Servidio, a local private chef, in the teaching kitchens where dietetic students learn food science and food service management.These efforts would also not be possible without the support of Alfonso Huerta, the Nutritional Sciences Food Lab Manager, for his help in receiving deliveries orienting Chef Servidio and his staff around the kitchens.
The first round of 250+ meals of herb roasted chicken and roasted veggies was delivered to the health care staff at Dell Medical Center. We at UT Nutrition are so proud to support these programs, as nourishing our front-line health care workers during this pandemic is critical to support their life saving efforts. Plus, Dell Medical Center's healthcare team members were appreciative to have a delicious and healthy lunch!
