Student Teams Prepare for Cooking up Change Healthy Cooking Contest
Winning School Meal to be Served in All Chicago Public High Schools
As advocates around the country gear up for discussions around the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act, the federal legislation that essentially defines school food policy for the coming years, high school culinary students in Chicago Public Schools are joining the dialogue by crafting healthy, great-tasting school lunch recipes that they hope will win the chance to be served at high schools throughout their city.
Students will vie for the school meal prize at the Cooking up Change Healthy Cooking Contest, held at HSC’s annual benefit on Oct. 23. The entries will be evaluated by dieticians to ensure that they meet the nutrition standards set for the contest, and will be tasted on-site by a judging panel of chefs and local celebrities.
Students face the additional challenge of creating these meals with a food budget comparable to that available to school food service directors—in this case, less than a dollar per meal for ingredients.
“If there is one word to describe this year’s healthy cooking contest, it’s excitement,” said HSC founding executive director Rochelle Davis. “The students are excited about the heightened level of culinary competition, the guests are excited to mingle with the chefs of tomorrow. But the most exciting part, really, is the way that this contest is making students part of a major discussion about the future of school food. It’s drawing attention to the need for real reform in our school food system.”
Students are preparing for the challenge with visits from nutritionists at the Chicago Partnership for Health Promotion and team mentors in Chicago’s culinary community.
Thanks to our Event Chair Kelly Dettmann and Contest Co-Chairs, Lisa Gershensen and Elaine Sikorski, we expect this to be the most successful benefit ever! In addition, our dedicated host committee has worked tirelessly to make Cooking up Change a success. Thanks as well to all our sponsors!
Learn more and get your tickets to the benefit online at www.cookingupchange.org.
Chicago Public Schools Launch Environmental Action Plan
HSC Collaborates in Effort to Engage Stakeholders
HSC is collaborating with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to engage stakeholders around the launch of the district’s new Environmental Action Plan [pdf], beginning with a briefing on Oct. 7.
The plan recognizes the role that public school districts play as employers, consumers, property owners and, most importantly, educators. With the Environmental Action Plan, CPS aims to minimize its impact on the environment and teach students to be environmental stewards.
HSC is pleased to work with CPS to begin putting the plan in motion. We’d also love to learn about ways that other school districts are addressing the increasingly important role that schools play in our society’s sustainability efforts.
Let us know what steps your school district is taking for environmental action!
Change the Future of School Food - Send a Letter by Oct. 15
Raise Your Voice for a Healthy Reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act
The 2009 reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act offers a tremendous opportunity to create a future for school food in which fresh, healthy meals are the norm and all children have access to the type of comprehensive nutrition education that creates healthy habits for a lifetime.
The USDA is seeking input from members of the school community for help in shaping the act’s priorities, and is accepting written comments through Oct. 15. Please join us in raising your voice for a healthy reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act.
Plus: When you send a letter to the USDA or sign up for Child Nutrition Act updates, you'll receive a coupon for $1.00 off your next purchase from Applegate Farms!
Cooking up Change Raffle Features Fabulous Culinary Prizes
Win a Culinary Weekend for Four or a Luxurious Cookware Collection
The Cooking up Change 2008 raffle features prizes to delight anyone with a love of food! Winners do not need to be present at the event, so purchasing raffle tickets is a wonderful way to support HSC from anywhere in the world.
First prize is a culinary weekend for four in the beautiful Mississippi Bluff Country in Wisconsin’s Hidden Valley with author, teacher, and renowned chef Monique Jamet Hooker.
Second prize is The Culinary Institute of America’s 50-piece Masters Collection, providing the luxury of owning the 50 most essential culinary tools including full sets of cookware, bakeware, cutlery, utensils, gadgets and more.
This year, the Cooking up Change silent auction also features a unique array of items to satisfy the foodie, athlete, gardener, spa enthusiast and traveler in all of us! Be sure to preview silent auction items online. Selected items will be available starting Oct. 7 for pre-event bidding or for immediate purchase!
Don’t miss this year’s Cooking up Change, featuring a Healthy Cooking Contest with Chicago Public Schools culinary students and an opportunity to celebrate good friends, good food and good works!
To learn more, visit www.cookingupchange.org.
HSC Marathon Team Races Toward Finish Line
Runners Raise Funds for HSC while Preparing for Chicago and New York Races
Runners on HSC's charity athletics team are entering the final lap in their training and fundraising for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and ING New York City Marathon. The team has already raised more than $15,000 for healthy schools.
You can be part of this remarkable effort by supporting the HSC team with a donation! If you are in the Chicago area, you can also support the team by cheering and encouraging our runners on race day at the HSC rally station! To learn more, contact Allie Krass at 312-560-4994.
Plus: Check out HSC's recent guest blog from Peter Sagal, the quick-witted host of NPR’s humorous weekly quiz show, Wait Wait…Don't Tell Me!, and national team captain of HSC’s charity athletics team. |
