SLU Nutrition and Dietetics Hosts Garden to Table to Honor the 20th Anniversary of the Teaching Garden
The Saint Louis University (SLU) Nutrition and Dietetics department will host its annual Garden to Table event on Saturday, October 22 in the department’s Teaching Garden. This year, the event will celebrate both the 20th anniversary of the Teaching Garden and the creation of the Dr. Millie Mattfeldt-Beman Student Research Fund – created in honor of former SLU Nutrition and Dietetics Department Chairperson Dr. Millie Mattfeldt-Beman.
The Garden to Table event is an opportunity for guests to share their love of food with SLU students, alumni, parents and friends during this outdoor event in the Teaching Garden. Guests will enjoy food tastings, cooking demonstrations from current students, beverages from local vendors and live music in a family-friendly atmosphere. While the event is complimentary, registration is required and guests are asked to consider making a gift of at least $25 to the Dr. Millie Mattfeldt-Beman Student Research Fund.
SLU’s Teaching Garden was established in 2002 to address the disconnect between the food people eat and their knowledge of where it originated. It has been fulfilling its mission to improve access to healthy, local foods by providing nutrition and garden education to the St. Louis community ever since.
Dr. Mattfeldt-Beman talked about what it has benn like to see the garden grow from where it started 20 years ago into what it is now.
“It’s great. It has been such a satisfying project that always has something new to do, always something new to grow, and it gives back in so many ways,” Dr. Mattfeldt-Beman said.
Dr. Mattfeldt-Beman went on to explain the importance of the newly created Dr. Mattfeldt-Beman Student Research Fund.
“Support for graduate student research is always such a great need,” Dr. Mattfeldt-Beman said. “Our students have done some amazing projects – receiving local and national recognition! Our students need all of the support possible.”
SLU Nutrition and Dietetics Undergraduate Program Director Lauren Landfried, Ph.D., RD, LD, FAND, was excited to honor Dr. Mattfeldt-Beman’s legacy and celebrate the Teaching Garden’s 20th anniversary in this year’s Garden to Table event. Dr. Landfried explained how Dr. Mattfeldt-Beman was an integral part in the formation of the garden back in 2002.
“Dr. Mattfeldt-Beman established the garden back in 2002 to increase the availability of nutritious food, provide sound nutrition education, increase physical activity, support sustainable food systems, and improve food preparation and preservation abilities while serving the St. Louis area,” Dr. Landfried said. “In 2004, Dr. Mattfeldt-Beman received a USDA grant where she was able to expand the reach of the farm to teach nutrition and garden educations in city schools. This program has reached thousands of children through these garden educations and continues to this day.”
Dr. Landfried went on to describe how the newly created Dr. Millie Mattfeldt-Beman Student Research Fund will be used.
“The fund was developed to commemorate Dr. Mattfeldt-Beman's vision in expanding student opportunities to impact the field of nutrition and dietetics,” Dr. Landfried said. “This research fund provides support for student research expenses and allows for more robust capstone or thesis projects.”
Saint Louis University is a Catholic, Jesuit institution that values academic excellence, life-changing research, compassionate health care, and a strong commitment to faith and service. Founded in 1818, the University fosters the intellectual and character development of nearly 13,000 students on two campuses in St. Louis and Madrid, Spain. Building on a legacy of more than 200 years, Saint Louis University continues to move forward with an unwavering commitment to a higher purpose, a greater good.