Name: Lily Mettler
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana
IU Job Title: Admin Nutrition and Recipe Assistant, IU Dining
Major: Dietetics at the School of Public Health
Minors: Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences and Personal Well-Being at the School of Public Health
Expected Graduation Date: May 2025
‘It’s about so much more than food’
What led you to study at IU and to your dining internship?
I'm very involved in SAND-IU, the Student Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. While I was president last year (2024-25 academic year), I networked and met IU Dining dietitians Lauren Bartholomew and Rachel Dolgner. I learned there was an opening to work with them and got the job!
I started in November of 2023 as a nutrition and recipe assistant and became the admin intern soon after. As interns, we all enter and update thousands of recipes, menus, and nutritional information (including allergens). We maintain allergen signage for dining facilities on NutriSlice, which is new this fall at four locations (Collins, Goodbody, Forest, McNutt), and NetNutrition, which has information for all IU Dining spots on campus. As the admin intern, I also help to organize intern work schedules, track IU students with food allergies to be sure they have the information and any accommodations they need, and interview staff for the Inclusive Dining newsletter.
What would surprise people about your work behind the scenes?
I would say that all the staff at IU Dining are super great! I just learned that our international staff come from 12 countries, including Tanzania, Peru, Afghanistan, Myanmar ... they are very accomplished people who are passionate about their jobs, and many are students. It’s been great to get to know them and see how much they all really care for each other and everyone who eats on campus.
What do you wish more people knew about the work of IU Dining Dietitians?
I have a lot to say about that! If an incoming student reaches out, even before they get here, our dietitians make a one-on-one connection to learn what each student needs. They bring in IU Housing when necessary to get students placed in residence halls with easy access to allergen-friendly meals and snacks. And whether a student's dietary preferences are religious, ethical, personal, or purely allergy-related, IU Dining dietitians meet students (and anyone with a campus meal plan) whenever and wherever they are available! They will also do their best to alter menus in any residential dining hall so that everyone feels safe eating there.
What are your favorite places to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner on campus and what are the best dishes?
I lived in Forest Quad during my freshman year, so for breakfast I love Forest Dining Hall! I think it has a very comforting atmosphere. The staff are great, and it’s the best place to find home-cooked meals; Heartland is a great place for comfort food, and it's made from scratch on site. For breakfast I would go to Goodbody Eatery—they have a bacon scramble, eggs and hashbrowns, or oatmeal for something lighter. I was a resident assistant at Union Street Center for two years, and I’d also recommend the great deli at Union Street Market Campus Store for fresh and convenient meals.
What are your plans for after graduation?
I am going to become a registered dietitian! Once I complete my undergrad at IU in May (2025), I'll go for my master's, which will take two years. I will need to complete 1,000 hours of supervised practice before I can sit for the exam.
What have you learned through your internship that you think you’ll apply to your future career?
I think this is a great job for learning how to work with people. How people eat is super personal in terms of their beliefs and how they live their lives. When you are working with students’ allergies or preferences, it’s all about how you make people feel comfortable where they are. In the end, it's about so much more than food.
