Event Management, Dining, and Hospitality (EMDH) connected with over 200 students, faculty, staff, and community members at Nutri-Fest 2023 in the Bone Student Center on Thursday, May 4. Nutri-Fest is an annual, free event helping people better understand nutrition and healthy eating. Health Promotion and Wellness hosted the event with attendees including EMDH, Campus Recreation, the McLean County Health Department, University of Illinois McLean County Extension, Green Top Grocery, Ecology Action Center, the Office of Sustainability, Central Illinois Beekeeper’s Association, Bloomington Farmers Market, and Dr. Amy Bardwell’s special topics class on sustainability in food and beverage. These departments and organizations provided guests with information about nutrition and sustainable practices, and guests sampled healthy foods.
The theme for this year’s Nutri-Fest was “Fuel for the Future.” “Fuel for the Future” promotes sustainable and zero-waste practices in the food industry focusing on local farming, food preservation, composting, and more. EMDH showcased plant-based recipes to highlight how plant-based foods are often rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are necessary for students to fuel for a healthier future. Additionally, some research has shown eating plant-based meals has less environmental impact than animal-based foods
Because Nutri-Fest happened on May 4, EMDH registered dietitian nutritionists Morgan Harm and Zak Kaesberg created Star Wars-themed recipes including a “Blue Milk Smoothie Bowl” and “Grogu’s Food,” a green goddess bean dip with whole wheat bread. Both recipes were plant-based and made without the top nine allergens (eggs, fish, milk, shellfish, soy, peanuts, sesame, tree nuts, and wheat) or gluten. The dietitian team enjoyed the opportunity to connect with students to showcase the importance of good nutrition.
Nutri-Fest is an annual event held in the spring. For more questions about recipes offered by EMDH, please contact EMDH@IllinoisState.edu.
