Riverside, CA: Good Food and a Good Conscience

Bryant Terry, an acclaimed eco-chef, food activist and author, will visit UC Riverside at 6 p.m. May 17 in HUB 302.

The event, which is sponsored by UC Riverside Student Wellness Partners, is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Parking is $5. Find out more at the Well.

Terry will talk about vegan soul cooking and food justice, a concept that seeks to provide everyone with equal access to food, regardless of race, class, gender, ethnicity, citizenship or ability.

It’s an important topic, especially for students who don’t always eat right.

“Since students have hectic schedules, they are more inclined to eat food that is easily accessible. Fast food is not only cheap but quick to grab on their way to their next class, meeting or event,” said Rhiannon Little, a student affairs officer in African Student Programs, one of the sponsors of the event.

“Also, due to the restrictions of living in campus housing, it’s not always feasible to cook a meal at home, and that can make grab-and-go eating more attractive.”

During the presentation there will be a cooking demonstration, an opportunity to ask questions, and giveaways.

Terry is the author of “Vegan Soul Kitchen: Fresh, Healthy, and Creative African-American Cuisine” and co-author with Anna Lappé of “Grub: Ideas for an Urban Organic Kitchen,” which won a 2007 Nautilus Award for Social Change.

He has made dozens of national radio and television appearances, including Fox, NBC, PBS, BET and Sundance, and made a guest appearance on the eco-reality series “Mario's Green House.” He hosted “The Endless Feast,” a public television series that explores the connection between the earth and the food on our plates.

In 2002, Bryant founded b-healthy! (Build Healthy Eating and Lifestyles to Help Youth), which according to Terry’s website is “a multi-year initiative designed to empower youth to be active in creating a more just and sustainable food system."