Nov 4, 2015UCLA Teams Compete In The Kitchen
UCLA’s Performance Nutrition Department made healthy eating into a healthy competition by hosting an inter-sport cooking contest with a Halloween theme. According to an article at UCLABruins.com, 16 student-athletes from five sports competed to present the best Halloween snacks, which included pizza panini sandwiches, pumpkin hummus, veggie trays, and apple and peanut butter vampire teeth. Judges assessed the snacks based on taste, appearance, and creativity.
“This event reminded me that although it can be a lot of work to make our own food every day, it can also be fun and creative,” said beach volleyball player Laurel Weaver.
The competition is an extension of cooking classes that are offered to each team by the Performance Nutrition Department and the Bruins Bistro. Taught by Performance Nutrition Coordinator Beth Miller, student-athletes learn basic cooking skills and practice making meals with various kitchen appliances and utensils. While they cook, athletes learn about how the foods provide fuel for performance.
“The cooking classes are one of the many ways that we teach the student-athletes how to fuel their bodies for current athletic performance and success, as well as teach them life skills that they can use beyond their collegiate athletic careers,” said Miller.
