Get to Social Soup

University of Utah is always hosting amazing events for its students, from football games to lectures from world famous scholars. One of which is the popular, informative and tasty Social Soup, a monthly lecture featuring food grown and prepared right on campus.

Students enjoying a cooking demonstration at Social Soup

“I thought social soup was pretty good,” said Jason Nowa, a communications major who attended September’s Social Soup. “It was pretty informative about food and health aspects and what you take into your body, plus there was free food and that was really fun.”

September’s event, the first in a series this semester, began with a video featuring Jamie Oliver, a popular advocate for fresh food and eating right. The film stirred the crowd into thinking about how they can eat better and with more variety.

“I expected it to be informational,” said Lindey Wilbur, a student who attended the lecture.  “But what I didn’t expect was how much fun it was going to be.”

The discussion on different ways students can think about eating wisely on a modest budget and with little time. Students and faculty participated in the discussion while enjoying a delicious bowl of gazpacho made from ingredients picked fresh from the U’s Edible Campus Gardens. Ideas such as growing one’s own vegetable garden, visiting the farmer’s markets sprinkled throughout town, and cooking one large meal each week to pick at as the days go by.

The lecture concluded with a presentation from one of University of Utah’s own chefs teaching how to make a cheap and easy peach cobbler, made from peaches bought at the farmer’s market on campus. Mouths watered as the cobbler was dished out to excited students.

“The peach cobbler made by a chef that was really good”, said Nowa, “You should go because the food’s really good and it’s definitely worth it.”

Students on campus spend most of their time running from place to place and trying to keep up with grades, so healthy food is usually the last thing on their minds. It’s nice to see the school provide a respite from the hectic world and give students a chance to take care of themselves rather than their grades. Check it out for food, fun and for better ways to eat.

Social Soup is from 12:00 -1:30 PM in the Gould Auditorium in the Marriot Library

Tuesday, October 23: Food day: Stories from Utah’s Real Food Movement

Tuesday, November 13, 2012: The Food Stamp Challenge