Leah B's Senior Project Blog

Project Title: As Sweet as Sugar: Breaking Down the Chemistry Behind Substitutes in Baked Goods BASIS Advisor: Terry Villarreal Internship Location: Call Your Mother Deli Onsite Mentor: Franz Vosselor

Project Abstract

Food substitutes impact more than 4 in every 10 Americans due to most people following some kind of nutritional rule. Dietary restrictions are part of millions of people’s daily lives whether it is for religious practices, allergies, special diets, or food sensitivities. They range from purposeful use to simply using another ingredient out of necessity. My project focused on educating people about how embedded substitutions are in our everyday lives while offering a glimpse of how chemistry plays a role in determining them. Although I researched various substitutes in baking, my internship at Call Your Mother Deli focused on “bee-ganism,” which is a form of veganism that includes honey. It allowed me to get insight on different versions of veganism and experience how diverse the world of substitutions could be. Between both my internship and my research study, I highlighted why it is important to have substitutes in our society and whether they are easy to detect based on distinctive characteristics like texture. Overall, I gained a deeper understanding of the chemical side of baking and the complex work involved in finding an efficient and taste effective substitute. My findings further reinforced the importance of accessible and available substitutes not only in pastry arts but also throughout the entire culinary world, because everyone deserves the right to enjoy delicious food.