| ISU Nutraceutical Garden teaches nutrition |
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| Written by Amanda Curry, Daily Vidette Reporter |
| Tuesday, 01 September 2009 20:55 |
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ISU will hold a nutraceutical garden event at the Horticulture Center this Thursday, Sept. 3 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The nutraceutical garden combines pharmaceutical and nutritional values of foods and offers students in-depth information about the benefits of the food they eat. “The purpose of the garden is to teach people about the food they eat and why it is good for them,” Jessica Chambers, horticulture coordinator, said. “There are interpretive signs next to each food explaining the nutritional and medicinal purposes.” Chambers explained the garden is divided into six components including vegetables, herbs, herbaceous plants, grains/legumes, fruits and weeds. According to Chambers, the weeds component of the garden is interesting because it challenges people to look at weeds in a different way. “You see a pot of dandelions and it makes you think differently about them. Just thinking differently about these things could help solve a lot,” she said. “I think the most important thing about the garden is the knowledge and education,” she said.  Katie Langridge / Daily Vidette Staff Photographer: Originating in South Africa, nasturtiums are used to treat bronchitis and urinary tract infections. Nasturtium grows in the Herbaceous Garden at the Illinois State Horticultural Center.ISU Executive Chef Phil Cade will also be at the event preparing several different dishes for attendees to sample. “The idea is to learn about healthy, local foods and how to have a healthy lifestyle,” Cade said. Cade will be preparing simple recipes that students will be able to duplicate at home. “The cooking will be concentrated on using fresh ingredients instead of canned or preserved foods,” he said. “Kraft Macaroni and Cheese is made with enriched flour, which means you are consuming empty calories with no nutritional value,” he explained. “Just by buying different pasta and making your own cheese sauce you can add nutritional value to the food.” Health information will be on display, and a farmer’s market will be present. The goal of the event is to get several different aspects of health into one place. |
