Kids' Recipe Contest - Winners

The recipe contest is another Healthy Kids Challenge action activating tool. Students create or modify recipes to make them more healthy and set individual goals. From start to finish this is an interactive learning opportunity.

Stirring Up Health™
Middle School Recipe Contest Winners!

Healthy Kids Challenge, in partnership with Johnson & Wales University, Mission Foods, and Cabot Creamery, is pleased to announce the winners of the Stirring Up Health™ National Middle School  Recipe Contest!

Talents soared as 7th and 8th grade recipe entrants skillfully showed that healthy foods can look and taste terrific! Entrants were required to use two ingredients; cheese and tortillas. At the same time, they learned about healthy balance with eating and activity, and set their own personal goals.

Winners are being treated to an awesome learning experience! Thanks to Johnson & Wales University, Mission Foods, and Cabot Creamery classrooms will experience an entertaining and educational visit from a professional Johnson & Wales chef! Johnson & Wales is a world-class university where students have an opportunity to pursue a career education in business, hospitality, culinary arts, or technology. The chef will prepare the winning recipe and give tips for healthy food preparation.

Entries were judged for originality, creativity, presentation, appearance and written essay. The four recipe contest winners came from different states; New York, Ohio and Missouri, yet each shares special experiences that revolve around food preparation and entering the recipe contest. To find out more, take a look at the winners’ stories below!

Click on each winner’s name to see their award winning recipes!

Edward of Arbor Hills Junior High, Sylvania, OH., used fresh and simple ingredients in a colorful presentation to give “Eddie’s Taco Bites” eye appeal! When asked who influenced his cooking interest, Edward was quick to give credit to his “Grandma Felicia”. “She’s a home economics teacher and every time I go over to her house, I help her cook,” Edward shares. The recipe contest has heightened Edward’s desire to eat more fruit and veggie snacks and get outside to enjoy sports like baseball, running and football.

Robert Frost Middle School of Deer Park, N.Y., submitted a winning recipe in Ms. Skjoldahl’s 7th Grade Home and Career Skills class. HKC shares recipe contest classroom ideas that enhance learning and Ms. Skjoldahl’s class expanded on a concept making it “real” for them. During National Nutrition Month the class completed a Web search and realized that their “tween” bodies were not getting enough calcium in the day. The class set a healthy goal of achieving their recommended daily calcium. By trying and testing different versions of their recipe, “Deer Park Paco”, the class came up with a winner that provided needed calcium as a bonus!

Danby Rush Tower Middle School, Festus, MO. had 2 recognized entries, thanks to Foods and Consumer Sciences teacher, Ms. Werner! Ms. Werner challenged the kids to examine food ingredients in recipes, research the different nutrients, and search for healthy balance between food and physical activity. Brooke's "Fiesta Roll-Ups" (shown in the picture at the left) with extra veggies added, met her healthy goal of eating more veggies. “Lots of kids, like me, usually don’t get enough [veggies] in a day”, Brooke said. Rita's "Chicken Cheese Bake", the 2nd recognized entry, uses unique combinations of ingredients and contains 4 major food groups of MyPyramid! Both girls have developed cooking skills which will guide them toward healthy eating balance.

Dadeville Middle School of Dadeville, MO., entered “Tortilla Surprise” as Ms. Glenn’s 8th Grade Food and Consumer Sciences class’s recipe entry. After reviewing MyPyramid principles and the recipe contest rules, the students forged ahead trying different recipes, different methods of cooking, and every class member contributed to the final recipe creation! Dadeville Middle School may be short on enrollment numbers but big on “heart” as the whole school celebrates for their classmates!

Honorable Mention Recipes

De's Tortilla and Avocado Dish - Michelle, Irwin Altman Middle School 172, Floral Park, NY

Tortagna - Niroshani, Irwin Altman Middle School 172, Floral Park, NY

Sweet & Sour P.A.A.T.illa Chicken Salad -Pooja, Irwin Altman Middle School 172, Floral Park, NY

Risham's Delicious Fruit Mix - Risham, Irwin Altman Middle School 172, Floral Park, NY

Tropical Fruit Tortilla - Christian, Irwin Altman Middle School 172, Floral Park, NY

The Katz Quesadillas - Michali, Irwin Altman Middle School 172, Floral Park, NY

Chicken Veggie Tortilla - Hamza, Irwin Altman Middle School 172, Floral Park, NY

Potato Cheese Soup with Chips - Daniel, Carson Valley Middle School, Gardnerville, NV

Mexican Chicken Tortilla Soup - Rebecca, Owen Valley Middle School, Spencer, IN

Elizabeth's Fully Involved Burrito - Elizabeth, Reeltown Middle School, Notasulga, AL

Salsa Cheesy Eggs with Tortilla - Sabrina, Danby Rush Tower Middle School, Festus, MO

The Western Burrito - Austin, Freeman Middle School, Rockford, WA

Chef for a Day Events STIR UP Excitement!

Danby Rush Tower Middle School students work along with Chef John Woolley

Johnson & Wales University Chefs impress Robert Frost Middle School students with their cooking talent

"This is the most exciting thing that has ever happened in the Family and Consumer Sciences Dept--the highlight of my time here at Danby Rush Tower!"
     Ms. Werner, Danby Rush Tower Middle School Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher

"His [Chef John Woolley] stories and past experiences were extremely interesting."
      Rita, Danby Rush Tower Middle School Winner

"The dining experience was amazing and what made it better was having him [Chef John Woolley] entertain and talk with us."
     Brooke, Danby Rush Tower Middle School Winner

"...it was great having a chef for the day. The students had a fun time helping the chef prepare the dish they had created. We wish the chef could have stayed the rest of the week to cook for us."
     Ms. Glenn, Dadeville Middle School Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher

 "I feel I am making a difference by educating my students to make healthy and wise food choices that will impact their overall health in the future."
     Ms. Skjoldahl, Robert Frost Middle School Home and Career Skills Teacher    

Congratulations to the Stirring Up Health™ Winners who have joined in the Healthy Kids Challenge motto of “Eat, Move, Enjoy Healthy Balance”.

Check out the “Stirring Up Health™” contest details for the fall!

For additional information contact:
Vickie L. James, RD, LD, Healthy Kids Challenge Director
Vickie@healthykidschallenge.com
www.healthykidschallenge.com