Contact: Tara Kennon, 312-419-1810
tara@healthyschoolscampaign.org

Cooking up Change 2007 Features Healthy Cooking Contest for Chicago Public Schools Culinary Students
Winning Entry Will Be Served for Lunch in All Chicago Public Schools

Chicago, Aug. 24, 2007 -- Healthy Schools Campaign (HSC) is pleased to announce Cooking up Change 2007, HSC's 5th annual benefit, and the launch of a new Healthy Cooking Contest for high school students enrolled in the Chicago Public Schools culinary arts program. The city-wide contest will culminate in judging and awards at the benefit on October 18 at Salvage One in Chicago, and with the winning entrée being served as a school lunch in all of the city's public schools.

"With Cooking up Change, we're bringing together a fabulous benefit with something that's very much part of our mission – transforming students' experiences with healthy food," said Rochelle Davis, founding executive director of HSC, an independent not-for-profit organization and a voice for people who care about our environment, our children, and education.

Guests at Cooking up Change will have the opportunity to taste the students’ award-winning creations as they mingle with friends, colleagues, prominent local chefs and celebrity judges, and cast a ballot for a special audience choice award.

In-class visits by chefs and nutrition experts will prepare the students to craft appetizers, desserts and entrees that meet high standards for taste as well as health. Chicago Public Schools (CPS) culinary teachers will prepare with a healthy cooking professional development workshop hosted by Kendall College.

The winning entry in the "school lunch entree" contest – which must meet the stringent cost requirements and nutrition guidelines that Chicago food service directors face– will be served to students throughout the Chicago public school system for lunch.

"Our hope is that the students come up with creative and resourceful solutions to the problem of feeding kids healthy food within the constraints of a typical school budget," said Steve McDonnell, CEO of cooking contest sponsor Applegate Farms. "Kids are notorious for outwitting adults. We hope this is one of those times!"

Michelle Hassan, manager for culinary arts of the CPS Education to Careers program, explained that the contest offers a unique opportunity for students to take leadership and experience pride in their work while developing knowledge of healthy cuisine and the professional-level experience of presenting their creations at a benefit.

"Culinary education and the whole culinary world are definitely changing," said Phil Mott of Kendall College, who is serving as co-chair of the event. "Particularly in terms of nutrition, sustainability, local sourcing – we're part of a much larger picture now."

HSC works at the intersection of health and environmental stewardship with programs and policies that make schools safe and healthy for the children, faculty and staff who learn and work there. This encompasses environmental justice, food and fitness, indoor environmental health, and a range of related issues.

This work is especially important in the context of the growing crisis of childhood obesity: Nationally, nearly a third of children are overweight or obese. These rates are dramatically higher in Latino and African-American communities. A recent community-level study from Sinai Health System shows that in Chicago's Humboldt Park, for example, approximately 62 percent of children are overweight or obese. In West Town, approximately 73 percent of children are overweight or obese.

"The work that Cooking up Change supports will make a real difference for children's health and our environment," said Davis. "People are starting to realize how vitally important and interconnected these issues really are – and it's a very exciting thing to be part of."

To learn more about Cooking up Change – including ticket options, profiles of celebrity judges, and updates from the teams of student chefs as they prepare for the contest – visit www.cookingupchange.org. To learn more about Healthy Schools Campaign, visit www.healthyschoolscampaign.org.

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The Healthy Schools Campaign, an independent not-for-profit organization, is the leading authority on healthy school environments and a voice for people who care about our environment, our children, and education. Our mission is to advocate for policies and model programs that allow students and staff members to learn and work in a healthy school environment.