Food has the power to be a unifying force for community. Whether students gather around the dinner table or grab sushi at the Student Union, mealtime gives them a moment to relax, reenergize and enjoy each other’s company. Media studies senior Annie Martin brought Spoon University to The University of Tulsa, and now students have both an online and campus community to celebrate food and health.
“Spoon University is an online food publication created by students for college students,” Martin said. Owned by Food Network with headquarters in New York City, Spoon University allows colleges to apply for their own site where students create food and health-centered content.
What’s the dish on Spoon University?
“We have recipes, restaurant reviews, college cooking hacks and everything that revolves around food that college students need to know,” Martin said. Here are the latest posts:
- Five ways to infuse premier protein into your diet
- Sober: Party of One, My College Experience without Alcohol
- Grandma’s homemade eggrolls
From mom’s homemade cookies to your favorite curry recipe, students are able to share their traditions. “Especially because TU is so diverse, we would love to have people from different cultures and backgrounds sharing a little bit of home with us,” Martin said.
Spoon University opens dialogue for tough conversations surrounding food. From worrying about the freshman 15 weight gain to feeling self-conscious about a vegan diet, the website is a judgment-free zone and breaks down barriers to healthy living.
When living in a dorm room on a tight budget, well-rounded meals may seem impossible. “It’s a lot easier to do Uber Eats versus sitting down and making a meal,” Martin added. “Also, there’s a stigma around healthy food being expensive.” Spoon University will offer food tricks for easy nutritious microwave meals and even offer suggestions on where to shop for cheap produce.
Spoon University and the Tulsa community
Students can experience the spoon community away from their screens. “We are really focused on having events with local businesses, of course always involving food,” Martin said. This September, Spoon University partnered with Fuel 66 and Tulsa Alumni Association for National Football Watch Party Day. They cheered on the Golden Hurricanes while enjoying some delicious Fuel 66 food.
Join the Spoon University team
Spoon University provides students the opportunity to generate multimedia content for a website. They are looking for: writers, photographers, marketers and videographers. Students can use their own creative skills to film short cooking videos, take pictures of their meal at a local Tulsa dive and even write personal accounts on food and lifestyle. “In order to join Spoon University, you need to apply at www.spoonuniversity.com/apply, and you’ll look for our school,” Martin said.
“Food is something that brings people together,” Martin said. “We want to build off of that and create this awesome community of food knowledge here at TU for everybody to access.”
To check out TU’s Spoon University page, click here.