Rainbows, Cheerleaders, & Juicing - Texas Tech Weeks 2-3

Hello from TTU!

Double Rainbow after Work

Week two was in a dining hall on campus, the Market. The Market is open as a buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Megan and I worked for the breakfast-lunch shift most days; once we were there for the lunch-dinner shift. I do have experience working in campus dining venues from one of my dietetics classes last fall, but working at the Market is another ball game. Most of our shift was spent serving. Several hundred people would come for each meal, mostly being junior high campers and Texas Tech athletes.

What I learned:
-Cheerleaders love bacon.

-Since mashed potatoes are made in a bowl the size of a cement mixer, they are scooped out with frying pans.

-How to make the pudding desserts

-Salad bars have a LOT of ice underneath them.

-The managers don’t think twice about jumping in to help anywhere needed during a shift.

-Baking soda extinguishes grease fires.

-Many people have strong opinions about purple vs. green grapes.

-TTU Football players are notably polite.

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Week three was the most exciting and diverse week so far since it was packed with learning experiences. All four of us interns were back with the dietitian Mindy and the head chef.

On Monday, we learned how juicing works. We spent a whole afternoon in the test kitchen adjoining our office (hence my business casual attire in the picture below). We were given free reign over an impressive amount of produce (including jalapeno, because.. Texas) for testing juice recipes. Our assignment was to create two recipes that differ from ones already used on campus, but we succeeded in making four! I have to say, ginger is a nice touch to the juices. Now I’m curious if the jalapenos had potential in a recipe after all.

At first, we were a bit nervous around the juicing machine. I kept expecting pieces of apple to fly at me like shrapnel. Once I realized I could trust the juicing machine, I had fun experimenting. We interns did crash after work because of all of the sugar we had to drink in the name of research.

The next day, we did something I’ve always wanted to do- film a nutrition video. The topic was sugar sweetened beverages. After we four interns decided on what to say, we went to the dining venue in the Honors dorm to film. I love public speaking, but I still got butterflies thinking about having a microphone attached to my collar with a real camera and lights facing me while people were walking around, buying their lunches.

After a few tries, I had said my lines well enough. Hopefully when I see the finished video, I’ll still be happy with everything. I added a communication minor two years ago because I would like to do videos and presentations like this professionally. This was an exciting first experience with film.

Tuesday night, Megan and I worked at a Red Raider (freshmen) Orientation event at the campus gym. We had a table with a quick activity for students to learn about how much sugar and fat are in some of their common food items. Then we told them how the dietitian on campus is available for free consultations (and how big of a deal that is). Talking about nutrition/food is what I love to do; the two hours flew by.

The last part of week two that I’ll highlight is Friday’s Health and Safety Fair! We accompanied the dietitian to the annual outdoor fair to talk about nutrition and distribute handouts. The fair was for the maintenance and facility staff. Everyone was friendly and quick to joke around about the toy desserts we had on the table. “Oh, that’s the good stuff, right? Where can I get some of that?” The main challenge was that there were so many people that we couldn’t give everyone much time at our table. Everyone did get to take some fruit though!

I am surprised at how quickly the weeks are passing. Texas is keeping us busy. Below are a couple fun pictures from after work.

We found the mascot on a mission. 

Weekend Trip to Palo Duro Canyon (the 2nd largest in the US!)