The Raising the Pulse campaign runs from 11th November to 1st December and includes pulse-based menus in campus dining facilities, cooking demonstrations from the Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food and an interactive treasure hunt.
The Raising the Pulse mission is to address both human and planetary health by encouraging increased consumption of pulses and pulse-enriched foods. Pulses, particularly faba beans, are rich in protein, fibre, and essential micronutrients, while also being environmentally friendly, with a lower carbon footprint than many other sources of protein.
Researchers will also collect feedback from participants, which will aid development of future activities at Reading and help to promote similar campaigns in other institutions. Activities include:
- Campus dining facilities (Eat at the Square, Park Eat, St Patrick’s, Wantage and The Dairy) will offer the specially designed menus that feature a wide range of pulse-based meals.
- The Raising the Pulse team will host live cooking demonstrations with the Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food on 21st and 22nd November starting at 11:45, 12:30 and 13:30 at Eat at the Square.
- The campus Co-op store will promote a selection of sustainable, pulse-based products, including butter beans, chickpeas, red kidney beans, and baked beans, making it easy for everyone to integrate these items into their everyday shopping and cooking.
- On 19th and 20th November, students, staff and visitors are invited to participate in an interactive treasure hunt around Whiteknights campus.
- Recipes developed by the Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food and the British Nutrition Foundation will be made available to pick-up from food-related locations.