Fruits and Veggies Recipe Contest Grows Healthier Kids
Fruits and Veggies Recipe Contest Grows Healthier Kids
Stirring Up Health™ Recipe Contest National Winners Announced
Wichita, KS – April, 2011 – A spoonful of creativity, a cup of knowledge and a dash of self expression can stir up some innovative healthy recipes from children. Thousands of 7th and 8th grade students created healthy recipes using Del Monte® canned fruits and vegetables in the 9th Annual Stirring Up Health™ Recipe Contest from Healthy Kids Challenge®. Top winners from throughout the U.S. were announced by the organization today.
“This event grows year after year and we’re still amazed at the quality of the recipes that kids create,” said Healthy Kids Challenge director Vickie James. “Using canned fruits and vegetables instead of fresh produce gave kids from all economic backgrounds an understanding of how to use them in recipes without compromising price and quality,” she added.
Both individual students and entire classrooms participated in the contest, with some classes using the contest as a platform to discuss how to make the recipes healthier using different ingredients. Kids were also challenged to write an essay about how they will improve their own eating and physical activity habits.
Sara Wright, an 8th grade student from Southern Regional Middle School in Manahawkin, New Jersey, said, “Now that I know I can do more interesting things with canned fruit, I will have that after school, rather than chips.” Wright developed her Fruity Tarts winning recipe in an after school program with assistance from consumer science teacher, Susan Stinson.
“Canned fruits and vegetables provide great nutrition,” stated Del Monte Foods Senior Nutritionist, Sarah Ludmer, RD/LD. “We are proud to partner with Healthy Kids Challenge to encourage kids to use fruits, vegetables and tomatoes in preparing great-tasting and easy-to-make healthy meals that the whole family can enjoy together.”
Stephanie Williams from Searcy, Arkansas also was announced a winner with her Creamy Mandarin Orange Meringue dessert. Williams is a student at Harding Academy.
Reading teacher Michele Henry inspired her students Tawnya Rufener, Andrew Hackney, Beau Milburn and Destinie Devore to create A+ Sloppy Sandwiches. Henry’s reading class from Uhrichsville, Ohio took on the recipe contest because the school’s no longer offering consumer science classes.
“All of the students in our class were inspired to like cooking by our 7th grade home economics teacher who retired last year,” said student Hackney. “This recipe contest let us enjoy that fun and motivation, thanks to our reading teacher, Mrs. Henry."
Each of the individual winners and Henry’s reading class will receive presentations at their school from a Johnson & Wales University culinary chef who will prepare the winning recipes with assistance from students. “These presentations inspire kids to take the Healthy Kids Challenge’s ‘eat, move and enjoy healthy balance’ message and make it a daily reality,” said director James.
Suzanne Nozaki’s class at Pahoa High and Intermediate school in Pahoa, Hawaii received a special recognition award for her exemplary teaching skills around healthy eating and physical activity habits using the contest. Nozaki’s class submitted six quality recipes including desserts, snacks and even a main dish of Pineapple Porcupine Meatballs.
The Home Baking Association provided online food demonstration videos and teacher lesson plans to enhance the classroom experience for the contest. According to the Home Baking Association, teaching students the importance of healthful cooking offers positive benefits throughout their lives.
Johnson & Wales University, a Healthy Kids Challenge Partner in Health, has been inspiring winning classes since the beginning of the 9-year contest. Similar to the Chef’s Move to Schools program, the chefs combine demonstration of culinary skills with ideas for preparing healthier foods.
“Johnson and Wales is so glad we can support this great event each year,” said Tom Gauthier, Director of Educator Partnerships & Scholarship Programs, Johnson & Wales University.
The winning recipes and those submitted for the excellence in teaching award can be found at the Healthy Kids Challenge website at www.healthykidschallenge.org and on the Del Monte Foods website at www.delmonte.com.
About Del Monte Foods
Del Monte Foods is one of the country's largest and most well-known producers, distributors and marketers of premium quality, branded food and pet products for the U.S. retail market, generating approximately $3.6 billion in net sales in fiscal 2009. With a powerful portfolio of brands including Del Monte®, S&W®, Contadina®, College Inn®, Meow Mix®, Kibbles 'n Bits®, 9Lives®, Milk-Bone®, Pup-Peroni®, Meaty Bone®, Snausages® and Pounce®, Del Monte products are found in eight out of ten U.S. households. The Company also produces, distributes and markets private label food and pet products. For more information on Del Monte Foods Company, visit the Company’s website at www.delmonte.com.
Del Monte. Nourishing Families. Enriching Lives. Every Day.®
About Healthy Kids Challenge
Healthy Kids Challenge is a nationally recognized nonprofit that educates and empowers influencers to take action for kids and families to Eat, Move, and Enjoy a Healthy Balance™. Created by registered dietitians, Healthy Kids Challenge offers solutions through workshops, events, toolkits, a website, newsletters and programming. Six healthy eating and active play practices make teaching and learning simple and fun. Find innovative resources at www.healthykidschallenge.com.
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