The BBC were live at Loughborough College today as students – with a little help from some celebrity chefs – helped to kick off a new superfood trend.
Two and a half thousand smoothies and powerballs were produced by hospitality students, with former England cricketer and Celebrity Master Chef contestant Matthew Hoggard and TV chef Joe Hurd getting stuck in alongside them in the kitchen, in the name of the #watercresschallenge.
Beauty students including Chiya Mistry and Katie Roulstone, together with lecturer Hannah Morrison, got in on the action too, whipping up a watercress face mask which Radio Leicester’s Al Booth was first to try as he heard how more than 1000 Loughborough College students and staff across the campus were set to sample the drinks, snacks and treatment. “Spinach is so 2018!” he declared.
Hospitality students Isabel Morris, Tobias Booty and Emmaline Blake told Al about the ingredients for the smoothies and the powerballs, Joe Hurd explained the nutritional benefits of watercress and how it can be grown at home while Matthew Hoggard described the energy boost it can provide.
“We wanted to back the British watercress growing season and this is a brilliant way to do it,” added chef lecturer and hospitality lead Darren Creed. “We’re also putting together a menu for our Radmoor Restaurant which includes the vegetable in every course - and even a watercress cocktail. We really are rising to the #watercress challenge.”
Hear Loughborough College on BBC Radio Leicester 2 hours 42:40 into the breakfast show here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p071z6n0 and 1 hour 49 into the drive show here https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p071z6p2