CMU Dining Celebrates National Nutrition Month With Interactive Teaching Kitchens
Every March, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics invites communities across the country to celebrate National Nutrition Month—and this year, CMU Dining embraced the theme in a big way. In partnership with Chartwells Higher Education, the campus community came together to explore what it truly means to Discover the Power of Nutrition.
On Tuesday, March 24th, 2026, Campus Dietitian Jessica Rea, Chartwells Campus Executive Chef Timothy Howland, and Chartwells Campus Catering Chef Mijoa Bell led four interactive Teaching Kitchen sessions designed to spark curiosity, build practical cooking skills, and highlight the “superpower” role of food in everyday life.
Each session connected directly to this year’s national theme, which emphasized the functional and therapeutic benefits of nutrition. Students had the chance to roll up their sleeves and create a variety of creative, approachable foods with sessions entitled:
- Carrot Cake Overnight Oats
- Make-Your-Own Dumplings
- Re-Imagine Your Leftovers, in collaboration with the CMU Pantry
- "Orange" You Glad You Came?
National Nutrition Month is all about recognizing how food supports our bodies and our well‑being. CMU Dining’s celebration brought that message to life by creating a welcoming space where nutrition felt accessible, empowering, and—most importantly—fun.