State of the Art Foods Laboratory
Nutrition and Dietetics students at ISU train in a newly renovated, state-of-the-art commercial foods laboratory on the Pocatello campus, gaining hands-on experience with professional-grade equipment that mirrors what they’ll use in hospital kitchens, research facilities, and food industry settings. This immersive environment prepares students for the technical demands of real-world nutrition and foodservice careers.
Innovating Nutrition Education
The renovated Foods Lab at ISU was designed with student learning at the center. It features fully equipped kitchen stations, an integrated classroom, and hybrid capabilities that allow students on both the Pocatello and Meridian campuses to engage in real time. Here, students gain hands-on experience in food demonstration, recipe development, and interdisciplinary learning, skills essential for today’s dynamic nutrition careers.
This space also supports one of the most exciting areas of dietetic practice: culinary medicine, the intersection of nutrition science and the culinary arts. Students work alongside health professions peers to learn how food can be a powerful tool in clinical care.
Fueling the Future of Nutrition
When the Foods Lab was first established in the 1970s, career paths for dietitians were fairly narrow. Most Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) worked in hospitals, supervising food service operations and ensuring patient meals followed prescribed dietary modifications.
Since then, the profession has grown tremendously. The role of the RDN now spans a wide range of industries and specialties:
- On TV and social media, RDNs host food demos and promote healthy recipes.
- In the food industry, dietitians help improve nutrition profiles and flavor of new products.
- At marketing and PR firms, they develop consumer nutrition messaging.
- In clinical and community settings, RDNs are leaders in culinary medicine—bringing cooking and nutrition together to improve health outcomes.
The recent renovation of the Foods Lab reflects this broader scope and prepares students for the many paths today’s dietetics profession offers.
Interested in Using the Foods Lab?
- Preview the contract: Foods Lab Usage Policy Contract
- Submit a request: Foods Lab Usage Form
