The National Association of College & University Food Services (NACUFS) announced UConn Dining Services as the recipient of a distinguished NACUFS Nutrition Award. Dining Services received gold in the category of Best Special Diet Recipe. The NACUFS Nutrition Awards recognize the outstanding nutrition and wellness programs implemented within collegiate food service programs to meet the needs of a dynamic student population.
The winning recipe, Butternut Cauliflower Creamy Pasta Bake, is gluten-free and vegan and a favorite among students.
“We have always been very proud of our dietary program here at UConn Dining Services and have seen a huge increase in the number of students diagnosed with dietary needs and food allergies, says Robert Landolphi Assistant Director of Culinary Development for UConn Dining Services. “In 2001 we had around 20 students with food allergies, and we now have well over 1200 students with dietary needs and allergens, about ten percent of our meal plan population. Tracking food allergies and dietary needs has assisted us in adjusting recipes and our menus in residential dining, retail, and catering to meet the ever-changing needs of the students and community members who dine with us. We appreciate all our customers and take the steps to source safe ingredients used to prepare delicious allergy-friendly dishes.”
NACUFS member institutions across North America submitted entries in three categories – Wellness and Nutrition Program of the Year, Special Diet Program of the Year, and Special Diet Recipe of the Year.
UConn Dining has received over 20 awards from NACUFS in the last 15 years for recipes, dining hall renovations, gluten-free options, culinary challenges, catering, and sustainability initiatives.
Want to try the recipe at home? Find a printable recipe and demo at dining.uconn.edu/recipes.
The National Association of College & University Food Services was founded in 1958 by a group of college and university foodservice professionals from across the United States. Since its inception, NACUFS has focused on its mission to support and promote excellence in collegiate dining by providing members with the programs and resources they need to excel, from benchmarking and best practices to educational programming and professional networking.
NACUFS institutional members range from private colleges to large public universities, including two-year and four-year institutions, spanning the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and beyond. Industry members include food and equipment manufacturers, distributors, brokers, food service support companies, councils, boards, trade associations, advisory commissions and other professional groups. For more information, visit NACUFS.org.