Bearkats in the Kitchen: Cooking, Nutrition, and Collaboration Come Together at SHSU

SHSU Online has teamed up with the Department of Human Sciences in the College of Health Sciences to create Bearkats in the Kitchen, a new cooking show that blends practical culinary skills with meaningful nutrition education. The goal is to make healthy eating approachable, affordable, and enjoyable for the SHSU community. 

The show is produced by SHSU Online’s Media Innovation team and features two tasty recipes in every episode along with a short educational segment called Culinary Corner. Each episode is designed to give viewers more than just recipes. It offers real insight into the science of food and nutrition. 

Graduate students from SHSU’s Dietetics program are deeply involved in every part of the process. They help curate and develop recipes, write and present the Culinary Corner segments, and even appear on screen as co-hosts alongside show host Dane Classen. The recipes themselves come from a cookbook developed by the Human Sciences Department in partnership with the American Heart Association, ensuring that everything viewers learn supports a heart healthy lifestyle. 

“They have been incredibly diligent and very professional,” Classen said. “They not only took on this challenge, but they worked incredibly hard to help produce something that is very professional even beyond the community of SHSU.” 

How the Collaboration Began 

The idea for Bearkats in the Kitchen started with Classen’s own passion for cooking and his appreciation for the resources already available on campus. 

“I’ve always been interested in cooking and sharing that knowledge,” he explained. “I knew the Department of Human Sciences supported Food Science and Nutrition and had a kitchen, so I thought why not utilize their expertise and help create something that can benefit the SHSU community.” 

In early planning meetings with Dr. Tabbetha Lopez and Kathleen Gilbert, the team explored different concepts before settling on one that used recipes developed in partnership with the American Heart Association. “With The America’s Test Kitchen as an example, we started from there to model the show in a way that can be fun and educational at the same time,” Classen said. 

Blending Education and Entertainment 

Bearkats in the Kitchen aims to find the balance between the casual creativity of YouTube cooking and the polish of traditional television productions. 

“I wanted a show that brought together YouTube-style cooking with a high-end production television cooking show,” Classen said. “Our team looked at different cooking and educational shows and found elements that we thought not only resonated with us, but also with the SHSU community.” 

Students are part of the entire creative process, working on cameras, handling audio, managing stages, and supporting production behind the scenes. “From operating the cameras, audio, and even stage management, their suggestions and morale helped move each episode along,” he said. 

What Viewers Will Take Away 

Classen hopes the series will inspire viewers to try new things in the kitchen and discover how easy it can be to make healthy, flavorful meals at home. 

“I’m hoping the viewers will get inspired by how simple and fun it can be to create delicious, healthy meals without going over a budget,” he said. 

Looking Ahead 

The first season of Bearkats in the Kitchen will include four episodes. The first four were filmed in May, with additional episodes planned for filming in 2026.

Classen envisions this project growing into something even bigger over time. “My hope and dream is to continue this collaboration with the Department of Human Sciences by creating small series every year that focus on different topics and healthy recipes,” he said. “I want to see the show become something recognizable to all SHSU students and to the greater Huntsville community.” 

Bearkats in the Kitchen is more than just a cooking show. It is a creative, hands-on partnership between media and nutrition, powered by SHSU students and staff who are passionate about food, learning, and community. 

It is cooking, education, and storytelling all in one, made for Bearkats, by Bearkats.