The Departments of Hotel Management & Culinary Arts (HMCA) and Food Science, Nutrition & Dietetics (FSND) successfully participated in “Food Explorers,” a highly insightful awareness event organized by the South Indian Culinary Association (SICA) to celebrate International Chefs Day. The event, held at Kesari Higher Secondary School in T. Nagar, Chennai, was designed to raise awareness among students about the dignity of the culinary profession and the paramount importance of good nutrition. Our university proudly served as the Knowledge Partner for this important community outreach.
The session was graced by the presence of renowned culinary leaders and experts, including Padma Shri Dr. Chef K. Damodaran, President of South India Chef’s Association (SICA), alongside Chef Sheetharam Prasaad, Vice President of the Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA) and other distinguished members of SICA & IFCA.
Addressing the assembled students, Chef Damodaran and Chef Seetharam Prasad shared profound wisdom, emphasizing the crucial concept that “Food is Medicine.” This powerful message underscored the importance of consuming right, balanced, and nutritious meals daily for maintaining lifelong health and well-being. Further highlighting the importance of the culinary role, the Headmaster of the school aptly described chefs as “the directors of the kitchens.”
As the Knowledge Partner, our FSND students led a highly interactive session for the school children. They imparted essential nutritional knowledge, covering topics from Rainbow Dieting and Food Labelling to Nutritional Spotlight. Students actively engaged the children with quiz questions and presented rewards to correct answerers, fostering a fun learning environment. The event successfully ended with a vote of thanks and the National Anthem.
We sincerely thank our Hon’ble President Er. ACS Arun Kumar for providing these invaluable exposure opportunities. Such events significantly enhance our students’ academic growth and professional readiness, proving that practical community involvement is key to their success.