Feb. 28, 2020 — The University of Minnesota recently debuted its new Schwan’s Teaching Kitchen located in the Athlete’s Village. The kitchen will serve as a place where student athletes can learn lifelong tips and tricks on how to prepare and cook nutritious meals. Schwan’s Teaching Kitchen was made possible with a donation from Schwan’s Corporate Giving Foundation as part of the foundation’s five-year commitment to various endeavors at the University.“The Schwan’s Teaching Kitchen has allowed the Gopher Sports Nutrition Department to impact our student-athletes through hands-on education on how to prepare quick, nutritious, and budget-friendly meals.,” said Tommy Jensen, MS, RD, CSSD, LD, director of sports nutrition for Gopher Athletics. “The space has been a key focal point in our life skills approach to educating student-athletes and we look forward to expanding the capabilities of this space.”
Jensen added that the Schwan’s Teaching Kitchen has also become a focal point on recruiting visits, showing parents and prospects alike the importance of performance nutrition and developing life skills necessary for success beyond their time at the University. The space is used frequently by the Sports Nutrition Department as well as various teams for shared events.
The Schwan’s Teaching Kitchen is modeled after the Apollo Theater located at the Product Innovation & Development facility in Marshall, Minnesota. Its classroom-style setup will serve as an area where student athletes can attend special cooking demonstrations.
"Schwan's Corporate Giving Foundation is excited about this initiative at the University of Minnesota as it directly supports our philanthropic focus areas of youth and education," said Theresa Zaske, community relations manager. "It’s encouraging to know that our support will help student athletes gain nutritional and culinary skills that will carry-on with them beyond their time on court."
Schwan’s Corporate Giving Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on efforts to end hunger, promote youth education and leadership development, and provide essential services that advance the health of the communities where Schwan’s Company employees live and work. The foundation is headquartered in Marshall, Minnesota.
