in partnership with
Three wellness foods for students
By Professor David Russell and Charlotte Harbour FdSc Nutritional Therapeutics
F
ood is more than just fuel – it may
support or impair bodily function.
While appropriate nutrition is vital
for all, it is especially important for young
people and students who face a heavy
burden of study and personal growth.
Our students are busy individuals
balancing academic study, social integration
and personal development. Let’s support
them through optimal nutrition.
Salmon: an excellent source of omega-3 fats,
salmon (preferably wild) is a great choice for
nurturing learning. Bursting with brain-
boosting fats and satiating protein, selenium
(a fantastic antioxidant and immune support)
and vitamin B12 (vital for brain and nervous
system health), salmon may support memory
and concentration – vital for our students.
Avocadoes: according to the American
Museum of Natural History, we have the
ancient (and now extinct) giant ground
sloth (or lestodon) to thank for the survival
of the avocado. It used to eat the avocado
Development opportunities
for hospitality managers
By Matthew White, chair of the University Caterers Organisation (TUCO) and
director of catering, hotel and conferencing at the University of Reading
O
ur members regularly ask what
development opportunities are
offered to aspiring directors in
hospitality. We saw an excellent opportunity
to devise a course for senior managers
to further growth in this unique field.
A year ago we launched our master’s in
hospitality leadership in universities and
the public sector, a collaboration between
our award-winning TUCO Academy and
London South Bank University (LSBU)
school of law and social sciences.
Now almost halfway through the
two-year course, the MA students have
buckled down and worked through the
seven modules consisting of product
and market trends and drivers, strategy
and visioning, hospitality leadership,
marketing and merchandising, sustainable
design and operation, comparative study
and a hospitality consultancy project.
12 | www.universitybusiness.co.uk | @UB_UK
whole and spread the seeds throughout
the area. Digestion aside – avocados
are an excellent source of heart-healthy
fats and low in sugar. An easy, portable
and accessibly food – avocados are
versatile and a popular student staple.
Eggs: still subject to debate, eggs continue
to be challenged in regard to their health and
wellness benefits. When raised in an ethical
manner, science supports the addition of eggs
into the diet for a boost of essential protein,
We have followed that journey to date
and I am delighted to see the remarkable
progress demonstrated in the past nine
months. In July, as part of the bespoke
learning field trip, a small group of the
MA students went to Berlin to visit five
university catering locations and then
returned to the UK to visit the University
of Manchester. They visited three catering
sites and two coffee bars in Berlin, each
a part of studierendenWERK BERLIN,
the service provider for the students of
the Berlin universities. They were taken
on a tour of the accommodations and the
back of house catering operations, which
in turn will help them complete part of
one module on comparative study.
In Berlin, they saw all catering sites have
a traffic light system; green for unlimited
eating, amber for eating occasionally
and red for those who dine infrequently.
Image © depositphotos.com
choline (synthesis of neurotransmitters) and
vitamin D – a difficult to obtain nutrient
from food that is essential for health.
Alongside the above superfoods, we
also recommend the inclusion of rainbow
vegetables, lean meats, nuts, seeds, beans,
pulses and wholegrains. Success is a
collaborative effort between student and
university – so let’s start at breakfast.
www.russellpartnership.com
Payment is completely cashless in all
facilities and, in general, more than 50%
of the menus are vegan and vegetarian.
As chair of TUCO, an organisation with
significant sustainability values, I’m happy
to learn that an increase in plant-based
dishes is being adopted internationally.
On 11 October, TUCO will host a
master’s taster event at LSBU. Potential
students can get more course information,
application process guidance and bursary
information. We were extremely proud
to have fully sponsored 10 TUCO
members in the first cohort and we are
delighted to once again offer a bursary
to TUCO members for the 2020 intake,
too. Bursaries of up to 100% of teaching
fees are available to TUCO members.
For more information, visit
www.tuco.ac.uk