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College cafeterias are getting recipes from moms and dads

Categories: Eating & nutrition, Education

I had a friend in high school whose father was in charge of a dorm cafeteria at a large public university. He was always trying to come up with new ways to get the students excited about the food, but he almost always fell back on the same two options: chicken strip night and pizzas. Oh, and for the sorority girls, a salad bar with plenty of fat-free dressing.

But some universities around the country are doing something that sounds really interesting: they are taking recipe submissions from students for their favorites meals as prepared by mom and dad at home. Not only are colleges finding that this adds a bit of variety to the traditional cafeteria fare, but it even helps relieve homesickness among some students.

The University of Georgia pioneered the approach 20 years ago with its annual "Taste of Home" competition. Hundreds of parents submit their entries and the university selects winners that will be incorporated into cafeteria menus.

I think it's a pretty goos idea, but I'm glad my mom never submitted her meatloaf recipe to my college cafeteria. Something tells me they would have been all too eager to incorporate her American cheese food slice and squiggle of crusty ketchup on top.

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