UT Austin - Culinary Nutrition and Fitness Camp

About

The Culinary Nutrition and Fitness Camp at Susie's Kitchen — hosted by the University of Texas at Austin's Department of Nutritional Sciences — is one of Austin's most distinctive and enriching summer camp experiences, designed for curious young chefs and health-minded youth ages 8–17 eager to understand the connection between food, nutrition, and a healthy life. Directed by Dr. Ladia Hernandez and co-directed by Elza Conn, both Registered Dietitians and UT faculty, and staffed by advanced nutrition students from UT's Coordinated Program in Dietetics, the week-long day camp runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the beautiful Susie Jastrow Teaching Kitchen in Mary Gearing Hall on the UT campus. Each day begins with nutrition education, moves into a hands-on culinary session where campers prepare their own healthy lunch using proper knife skills and safe food handling, and ends with fitness activities led by trainers from UT's Fitness Institute of Texas plus a healthy snack preparation session. Camps are intentionally small — just 14 participants in the ages 8–12 session and 16 in the ages 13–17 session — ensuring every camper gets personal attention. Themes vary by week and have included international cuisine and MyPlate nutrition. Wear comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes appropriate for an active kitchen and fitness environment.