Montana State University is offering informal cooking sessions called Student Stir to help undergraduate students learn basic cooking skills. The program, organized by the College of Education, Health and Human Development, provides instruction on preparing inexpensive, quick, and nutritious meals. It also serves as a social space for students to cook and eat together.
Sara Heller, an academic adviser in the college and organizer of the event, said: “This is one of the pieces of the puzzle. Students need tutoring support and affordable housing, but they also need access to healthy meals so they can function and do well in school.”
During a recent session at Herrick Hall’s teaching kitchen, students prepared creamy garlic penne pasta with roasted vegetables using produce from MSU’s student-run Towne’s Harvest Garden. Members of the Montana Student Dietetics Association led their peers through food preparation techniques such as safely chopping vegetables.
Each session accommodates up to 14 students and includes hands-on instruction along with recipe packets that feature cost analysis, sample grocery lists, and links to budgeting resources. After cooking together, participants share a meal and may take leftovers home.
The Student Stir began in 2024 after dietetics association members expressed interest in leading peer classes. Heller and Cailyn Gillis, Herrick Hall Food Lab manager, collaborated with undergraduates to design these informal lessons after learning about research showing many young adults lack basic cooking skills. The dean’s office provided $200 for a pilot session held in spring 2024.
Past sessions have included dishes like fajita vegetables with chicken, vegetarian chili with cornbread, and build-your-own frittatas. According to Heller, all surveyed participants reported increased confidence in their kitchen abilities after attending.
Feedback from students highlighted positive experiences: “I’ve never taken a cooking class, and I wanted to try something new as well as learn new recipes that I can use, take home and try out,” wrote one participant. Another added: “I learned new tips and tricks for the kitchen, and the recipe book was super helpful.”
Four additional Student Stir sessions are scheduled this academic year. Interested students can contact Sara Heller at sara.heller1@montana.edu or 406-994-4002 for more information.
