For many University of Idaho students, living on campus is their first time away from home.
The dorms come with a microwave and fridge combination, but little else in the way of kitchen-ware, leaving quite a few students feeling restricted with what they can cook.
UI dietitian Mindy Rice is looking to change that through Vandalizing the Kitchen courses, which have returned to the fall semester after a successful spring.
“A lot of times, students come to school and are used to their parents cooking for them, they don’t have the basic skills you need to cook,” Rice said.
Rice, the instructor for Vandalizing the Kitchen, said the event is a beginning cooking class put on by UI in partnership with the university’s Sustainability Center and the Moscow Food Co-op. The courses are held in the Student Recreation Center every month.
Alexandra Stutzman | Argonaut
Campus dietitian Mindy Rice instructs cooking students Thursday.
While the first class, Brain Boosting Bites, has already passed, Rice said there will be plenty of opportunities throughout the semester to attend an event. The next class is Oct. 11, where students will learn how to make quick comfort foods.
The diet of many students, who live both on and off campus, often consists of quite a bit of pre-made food, Rice said, but eating Top Ramen every day won’t cut it, nor will it help someone feel healthy.
“What you eat has an impact on your mental health, as well as your physical health and it’s going to have an effect on how well you do in class,” she said.
With Vandalizing the Kitchen, Rice said she aims to give students options by expanding their cooking knowledge and abilities. The recipes are healthy, and students don’t need to have any prior skills to make them.
Rice said the classes also feature vegan and gluten free recipes, so students with dietary restrictions are welcome.
All the recipes showcased are less than $10, Rice said. Students are able to prepare more than one serving and save the rest for later.
Currently, the class is purely instructional. However, Rice said she is hoping to add a hands-on course in the spring. The class will still be open to all skill levels, focusing on the basics, such as how to handle a knife and which utensils do what job.
If learning how to cook isn’t incentive enough to check out a class, Rice said Vandalizing the Kitchen can also count as a personal fitness credit.
“Instead of going to a P.E. class, why not come and get some free food while learning how to make it for yourself,” she said.
The class is open to all students — living on or off campus — who are looking to advance their cooking ability or improve their diet.
One-on-one diet counseling with Rice is also available by appointment at [email protected].
Ryan Larsen can be reached at [email protected]
Vandalizing the Kitchen Fall 2018:
Thur. Oct 11 – Quick Comfort Foods
Thur. Nov 8 – Simple Healthy Snacks
Thur. Dec 6 – Wild Game Cooking