Bon Appétit at DePauw University

05/17/2026

05/16/2026

Guess what we’re gearing up for tonight! Here’s a sneak peak- five more letters to go!

04/15/2026

What's the buzz on food intolerance testing? 🗣️
Food-sensitivity blood tests can save you from exposure to harmful ingredients. But could they be needlessly limiting your food choices?

What does the science say?
Some food allergies are easy to detect with skin tests conducted by a doctor, but others take legwork such as blood work, tracking symptoms, and temporarily eliminating some ingredients from your diet.

Most at-home kits detect Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies, which, according to the Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) organization, are actually normally occurring in allergic and non-allergic people in response to eating food.

What's the takeaway?
1️⃣ If you choose to use an at-home test, work with a trained health care professional to help you identify which of the foods may be causing symptoms by guiding you through an elimination diet and eventually reintroduction of foods.

2️⃣ The best way to know whether you have an allergy or intolerance is to head to your doctor.

04/11/2026

While folks are out there generating “AI slop,” you could be bringing AI into your kitchen to help you cook smarter, waste less, and elevate your kitchen confidence. We're not talking smart fridges here. Try these 5 ideas out for size:

1️⃣ Ask for a meal plan. And throw in a shopping list while you're at it to streamline life's admin work!

2️⃣ Reduce waste. Don't toss it! Ask for creative ways to repurpose leftovers or ideas for utilizing what's in your fridge.

3️⃣ Seek clarification. Ask to help decipher a family recipe you just can't make sense of!

4️⃣ Help plan for dietary needs. Ask for suggestions on altering recipes to offer dietary flexibility. Follow up by asking why it made the changes it did to check the logic and learn more at the same time.

5️⃣ Get assistance. You can often use smart assistants on your mobile or smart home devices to do things when your hands are busy or dirty. Think: walking through steps of a recipe, setting a timer, or converting measurements.

Some important clarifications:

▶️ AI may not always get it right, so make sure you double-check answers to ensure recommendations are appropriate, especially when dealing with dietary restrictions.

▶️ AI really cannot replace cooking skills, just enhance them.

04/08/2026

Could multivitamins lead your health astray? While the nutritional boost once seemed like a no-brainer, multivitamins have been at the center of controversy over the years, leaving many people questioning their health value. Our dietitians break down the buzz! 👇

What does the science say?

In most cases, vitamins appear to have a neutral effect. One study shows no increase or decrease in risk of death from cancer or cardiovascular disease among people who took multivitamins.

There have even been cases where vitamin and mineral supplements proved to be more harmful than helpful, such as beta-carotene supplementation actually increasing lung cancer risks in men who smoke! And some vitamins may also interfere with certain medications and medical treatments.

Key takeaways:

💸 A daily vitamin is not harmful as long as doses are within the recommended range, but they don't provide much benefit.

🥕 Most people can get everything they need from food by eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean and/or plant-based proteins, along with some healthy fats.

👩‍⚕️ Always consult with a physician before starting a new supplement.

04/03/2026

Do you ever miss seeing (seemingly) obvious things? You're not alone.

Science says we miss things because our minds automatically filter out what we are not focused on; what you experience is what your brain is serving you as reality!

Now for the real question: Can we use it to our advantage?

We think so! Build habits (and break others) by acknowledging that we regularly have a bias for the familiar. Here are some ideas with examples:

🍔 You might overlook plant-based menu items at your favorite restaurant because you regularly order a burger. Challenge yourself to step back and think more critically about what you order.

🥗 You might not enjoy iceberg lettuce, so you don't eat salads. Test the assumption that all salads are bad — not all salads use iceberg lettuce, and some aren't even cold!

🥦 Do you only focus on fresh produce when grocery shopping? You might be missing out on other foods that can contribute to your dietary needs: plant-based proteins, dips, nuts and seeds, and even meal kits!

Take a step back this week to test your habits and beliefs. You never know what you might discover. 💡

03/31/2026

Explore 6 actions Bon Appétit has taken in our decades of support for farmworkers' rights!

1️⃣ In 2001, Bon Appétit became the first food service company to support the boycott of produce grown by NORPAC (the largest food packing and processing cooperative in Oregon) led by PCUN, Oregon’s union for farmworkers.

2️⃣ In 2009, we signed the Fair Food Agreement (FFA) spearheaded by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to ensure better wages and working conditions for tomato pickers in South Florida. Tomatoes in our cafés east of the Mississippi are certified by the FFA.

3️⃣ We are a founding member of the Equitable Food Initiative, a multifaceted certification that ensures transparency, better labor standards, and food safety training for workers. Tomatoes and strawberries in our cafés west of the Mississippi are EFI certified.

4️⃣ In partnership with the United Farm Workers (UFW), we released a groundbreaking report in 2011 to uncover the gap in labor protections for US farmworkers: “The Inventory of Farmworker Issues and Protections in the United States.”

5️⃣ In 2011, we hosted TEDxFruitvale, a one-day conference focused on amplifying the voices of farmworkers and labor movements in the US.

6️⃣ We’ve committed to educating our guests about the harsh realities for farmworkers by shining a spotlight on the issue every March during National Farmworker Awareness Week in collaboration with Student Action with Farmworkers.

03/30/2026

If you see Tim around today, be sure to wish him the happiest of birthdays 🎉
Happy Birthday Tim Ginn!

03/30/2026

Welcome back from Spring Break! Here's a reminder and fun facts about Bon Appétit Management Company. 👋

Bon Appétit was founded in 1987 with a vision to create a food service company that cooked authentic, restaurant-quality food — an utterly revolutionary idea at the time.

Our pursuit of from-scratch cooking and environmentally and socially responsible sourcing proved to be an act of disruption that fundamentally shaped the food service industry. Here's how we did it 👇

1️⃣ We've been committed to tackling issues facing the food system since 1999 when we launched our Farm to Fork program requiring chefs to buy at least 20% of their ingredients locally.

2️⃣ We create custom food experiences. No companywide recipes. No cycle menus. Your chefs cook from scratch using the freshest, highest-quality ingredients, sourced with care.

3️⃣ We didn’t stop at sourcing locally. Our entrepreneurial spirit has led us to develop everything from Waste Not™, our patented waste tracking software, to our Food Standards Dashboard.

4️⃣ We’re interested in building a community at DePauw University here in Greencastle, Indian that will have deep roots and measurable impact.

Learn more about us at depauw.cafebonappetit.com.

03/29/2026

Local food still has all the buzz, but is locally grown food really better? (If you know us, you know our answer to this already. 😉)

What's the buzz?
Local food is higher in quality, produces less emissions, and strengthens local economies.
What does the science say?
Research has found that local foods are fresher and higher in nutrients than foods that have been picked, packed, driven, flown, or frozen.
The claim that all local food being lower in emissions is highly dependent on the food being produced, the local supply chain, and which country or region the food is produced in.
Finally, supporting local producers does indeed strengthen your region's economy.
What's the takeaway?
In general, purchasing seasonal foods grown near you means less greenhouse gas emissions are produced from transportation than out-of-season foods grown far from your region – and they require less packaging. Local food is often fresher and may be more nutritious, and does support your local economy!

03/28/2026

Is colostrum a true super supplement or just another overhyped "miracle powder?" We're here to cut through the buzz on this new fad supplement!

What is colostrum?

Colostrum is the OG super milk that is produced by mammals for the first few days after giving birth. It is loaded with good stuff like antibodies, antioxidants, and immune-boosting nutrients.

What's the buzz?

Bovine colostrum (from cows) has been making waves beyond the barn. Adults are turning to it in supplement form chasing potential perks like immune support, gut health, muscle recovery, and even better skin.

What does the science say?

Although bovine colostrum is packed with things like immunoglobulins, growth factors, lactoferrin, and enzymes — all of which help baby calves build a solid immune foundation — further research is needed to understand if there are any benefits to adult humans.

Plus, the labor-intensive process of collecting colostrum from dairy cows is complicated and not always done ethically.

What's the takeaway?

➡️ You don't need a fancy supplement to be healthy. Whole and plant-based foods are still the MVPs when it comes to fueling your body.

➡️ If you have a milk allergy or an intolerance you should steer clear — colostrum is still a form of milk!

➡️ The benefits of colostrum aren't clear given current scientific research.

➡️ Always talk to your healthcare provider before taking a new supplement.