Sixteen UCLA student-athletes from five different sports participated in the first inter-sport cooking class/competition, hosted by the Performance Nutrition Department's Bruin Bistro. The Halloween-themed event was won by the team of Kelly Anna Geiser, Laurel Weaver and Elise Zappia from beach volleyball; Alexa Dreyer from women's volleyball; and Saskia Budgett and Lucy Jepson from women's rowing. Other teams participating were softball and men's volleyball.

Student-athletes prepared pizza panini sandwiches, pumpkin hummus, creative veggie trays and apple and peanut butter vampire teeth. The items were judged on taste, appearance, overall acceptability and creativity of their Halloween vegetable creation.

"This event reminded me that although it can be a lot of work to make our own food every day, it can also be fun and creative," said Weaver.

The Bruin Bistro cooking classes are taught by Performance Nutrition Coordinator Beth Miller and offered to each team. At every class, student-athletes learn various basic cooking skills and make a full meal using George Foreman Grills, electric griddles, microwaves, blenders and small kitchen utensils. Educational components of the classes include the cooking skills as well as education about how each of the ingredients play a role in their performance diets.

"The cooking classes are one of the many ways that we teach the student-athletes how to fuel their bodies for current athletic performance and success, as well as teach them life skills that they can use beyond their collegiate athletic careers," said Miller.

The Performance Nutrition Department's mission is to provide UCLA student-athletes with accurate, scientific-based nutrition resources, knowledge and care to fuel top sport performance and to assist UCLA student-athletes in acquiring life skills needed to optimize health for their entire lifetime, both in and beyond athletics.