Community Engagement and Events
The Nutrition and Dietetics Teaching Kitchen at Pace University is committed to engaging the campus and surrounding community through interactive programs that promote health, wellness, and culinary confidence. Through partnerships with departments, student groups, and local organizations, the Teaching Kitchen hosts a variety of events each semester that align with the philosophy of food as medicine, supporting health promotion, disease prevention, and sustainable nutrition practices.
Past events and initiatives include:
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Graduate students provide monthly cooking demonstrations and recipe tasting during mobile market events, using ingredients available at the mobile market and food pantry. Cooking demonstrations focus on simple preparation methods and practical, budget-friendly recipes (ongoing monthly event).
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Delivered numerous interactive cooking demos with seasonal recipes and practical handouts to support healthful habits among faculty and staff. Featured nutrition topics such as Foods That Support Detox, Holiday Side Dishes Made Healthy, and Eating for Stress Reduction, led by faculty and university wellness leaders.
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Participated in annual campus-wide wellness fairs, organized by the Center for Wellbeing, offering interactive nutrition education stations and healthy snack demonstrations, engaging students, staff, and faculty in conversations about balanced eating and lifestyle habits.
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Introduced campus RAs to easy, dorm-friendly recipes and nutrition tips they can share with residents throughout the semester.
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Hosted a variety of interactive sessions tailored to student needs, including nutrition guidance for nursing students in clinical rotations; budget-friendly meal planning through the Nourish Project; performance-focused strategies for student-athletes; and quick meal solutions for commuters, all aimed at promoting healthy, sustainable eating habits across campus.
Upcoming Events
The Teaching Kitchen hosts a variety of workshops, demos, and pop-up events throughout the academic year.
Don’t miss out! View the Events Calendar to explore and register for our exciting, future events!
Request a Teaching Kitchen Session
Interested in hosting a Teaching Kitchen session for your department, student group, or campus event?
We’d love to collaborate! Sessions can include cooking demos, nutrition education, tastings, or interactive workshops customized to your group’s needs.
To request a session, contact:
Mary Opfer, MS, RDN, CDN
Clinical Associate Professor
Nutrition and Dietetics
Email: mopfer@pace.edu
Or submit a request using our online Teaching Kitchen Session Request Form.