Abby Saucer
Contributing Writer
Tortilla chips have gained a new, low-fat partner in crime thanks to graduates of Dominican’s nutrition program, Maria Dellanina and Cheryl Fitzgerald. Dellanina and Fitzgerald created the low-fat guacamole alternative, Guiltless Guac, to provide a tasty snack with health benefits.
When developing their product, Dellanina and Fitzgerald noticed two snack challenges.
“People tend to overeat guacamole, or at least we noticed that we do. The serving size is two tablespoons, but we realistically eat about half a cup,” Fitzgerald said. “People also aren’t often getting enough vegetables.”
The two took these concerns and created Guiltless Guac in their experimental food course at Dominican. The product, which now comes in six flavors, is only about 25 percent avocado, and is supplemented with beans and other vegetables.
Their experimental food course challenged Dellanina and Fitzgerald to develop a product and continually alter it to create a more healthful product over the course of seven weeks. The course ends with industry showcase, where students over a taste of their hard work to faculty, students, and industry professionals.
Nutrition Professor Yamunadevi Puraikalan highlighted the importance of this showcase for students like Dellanina and Fitzgerald.
“We bring in professionals working in the food science industry to give feedback to our students so they can continue developing their products after the class, and so they can learn from people who are succeeding in the eld,” said Puraikalan.
“I wouldn’t have considered food science as a career option until I took this class,” Dellanina said.
Out of this class project, Dellanina and Fitzgerald grew a business, the Guiltless Garden. They currently make Guiltless Guac out of a commercial Kitchen at Dominican and sell their products at farmers markets in the Chicagoland area, with plans to expand both production and sales.
They also plan on getting Guiltless Guac certi ed by the Food and Drug Administration so they can make the move to selling in stores in addition to local farmers markets. Dellanina and Fitzgerald hope to use their winning formula and expand their product line into other snacks that are healthy and have traditional tastiness.
Guacamole fans can nd Dellanina and Fitzgerald on Nov. 25th at the Chicago Vegan Test Kitchen in Logan Square. The event will run from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and will be located at 2363 N. Milwaukee Ave.
sausabig@my.dom.edu