National Food Group Supports Student Chefs in Healthy Cooking Challenge: Cooking up Change®
National K-12 foodservice provider supports healthy eating in some of America's largest school districts, plus life-long cooking and leadership skills
NOVI, Mich. and SAN DIEGO, Oct. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- National Food Group is pleased to announce its national sponsorship of the Healthy Schools Campaign initiative Cooking up Change® for the 2016-2017 school year. This dynamic culinary competition challenges high school students in some of the largest cities across the nation to create healthy, appealing school lunches. Winning teams compete in the national finals in Washington, D.C., and present their meals to Congress; winning menus are also served locally in the students' school districts to thousands of their peers.
"Our involvement in the Cooking up Change® program gives us a chance to see first-hand how culinary arts can promote growth and development, not only for the lives of the students participating, but for the entire school food service program," shared National Food Group K-12 Team Leader Tara Sharpe. "We are proud to support a program that has the ability to creatively innovate on such a unique level and truly believe their mission will help students reach their highest potential."
"We are honored to have National Food Group join us as a Gold sponsor this coming year," said Rochelle Davis, President and CEO of Healthy Schools Campaign. "The positive impact of having a national food distributor that works with schools every day is tremendous."
To participate, districts must support 40 percent or greater free or reduced meals in their schools. This food competition not only teaches culinary arts in the food service industry, but also teaches teamwork, problem-solving and leadership skills. The multi-city contest kicks off in Chicago on November 17, and concludes in Washington, D.C., next June.
Support for this program is part of National Food Group's Step1 Initiative, which assists in alleviating food insecurity, helping provide nutritious meals and supporting education.
ABOUT NATIONAL FOOD GROUP
Founded in 1990, National Food Group is one of America's fastest growing wholesale food service distributors for education, institutions, entertainment venues, healthcare facilities and corporate cafes. The company is headquartered in Novi, Michigan with a west coast office in San Diego, California. National Food Group offers three unique programs: Opportunity Buys®, Always Available® and Commodity Processing™, which all arose from a commitment to improve nutritional quality in food service through high value products. Learn more by visiting our website: nationalfoodgroup.com.
ABOUT COOKING UP CHANGE
Cooking up Change challenges high school culinary students to create healthy, great-tasting meals that meet the real-life requirements of the national school meal program. Cooking up Change serves up life-changing opportunities, helps students realize their own potential and puts student voices front and center in the national dialogue about school food. Healthy Schools Campaign launched Cooking up Change in Chicago, and more than 1,800 students from 20 cities have participated in local contests since the program started in 2007. Winners travel to Washington, D.C., for the national finals to show off their culinary skills and engage with health and education leaders, the culinary community and Congress. Visit cookingupchange.org to learn more.
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160817/399048LOGO
SOURCE National Food Group
Share this article