By Anna Lougee ’24, staff writer 

A group of first-year graduate speech-language pathology (SLP) students have a special opportunity to assist community members.   

In the Adventurous Eaters group, multiple SLP students run sessions with members of all ages from the local community. These people are willing to step out of their comfort zone and try various new foods.   

“Each week, a new vegetable is introduced, and then there is food that is made with that vegetable.” Riley Finnegan, a first-year graduate student, said.  

Vegetables like beets, turnips, sweet potatoes and butternut squash are turned into cakes, fries, donuts and ice cream, all with the goal of allowing the members of the group to taste something they might never have previously tried before. The largest rules of the group are that one doesn’t have to try it, you measure with one’s heart and when in doubt, add sugar and cheese.   

“Adventurous eaters are a great way to have individuals interact with one another and try vegetables they have never tried before,” Finnegan said. “I am a picky eater myself and have even enjoyed eating new vegetables every week.”   

The group meets on Tuesdays in the SLP clinic.