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Omar Ortega slices a cucumber for his salad while being assisted by Dolores Loya, a volunteer from Brawley Union High School, during the Sodexo Future Chefs competition Friday afternoon in Brawley. (ERIC MILLER PHOTO / March 23, 2013) |
BRAWLEY— Feeling prepared, but a little nervous fifth-grader James Valencia of Phil D Swing Elementary School mixed up different fruits to add to his one-of-a-kind Peace Fruit Salad dish, Friday evening.
“I named it Peace Fruit Salad because I feel peaceful when I’m making it,” James said as he prepared his dish.
James was one of 10 other young finalists that made and displayed their own original salad dishes during the Brawley Elementary School District’s first Future Chefs: Healthy Salad Challenge.
Organized in a group effort by the BESD and education partner Sodexo Inc., the friendly competition brought together 10 elementary students between fourth- through sixth-grade to show off their healthy creations.
“It started about four months in advance with the student submitting recipes,” Sodexo General Manager Elda Najera said. “One of the things that Sodexo is committed to is healthy eating, so the competition encourages students to make and eat healthy food.”
The local competition is part of a national program by Sodexo Inc. and its commitment to bolstering communities by promoting well-being in support of achievement, Najera explained.
Finalists presented their creations to local judges who assessed them on originality, taste, presentation, kid friendliness and use of healthy ingredients.
Having enjoyed making his own Nathan Salad, sixth-grader Nathan Figueroa of Phil D. Swing shared his own feeling on the competition fun.
“It was pretty fun making healthy food that tastes really good,” Nathan said.
Trying some of the tasty treats, BESD Superintendent Ron Garcia and Sodexo Inc. hope to continue the competition next year and for years to come.
Staff Writer Celeste Alvarez can be reached at 760-337-3442 or at calvarez@ivpressonline.com
“I named it Peace Fruit Salad because I feel peaceful when I’m making it,” James said as he prepared his dish.
James was one of 10 other young finalists that made and displayed their own original salad dishes during the Brawley Elementary School District’s first Future Chefs: Healthy Salad Challenge.
Organized in a group effort by the BESD and education partner Sodexo Inc., the friendly competition brought together 10 elementary students between fourth- through sixth-grade to show off their healthy creations.
“It started about four months in advance with the student submitting recipes,” Sodexo General Manager Elda Najera said. “One of the things that Sodexo is committed to is healthy eating, so the competition encourages students to make and eat healthy food.”
The local competition is part of a national program by Sodexo Inc. and its commitment to bolstering communities by promoting well-being in support of achievement, Najera explained.
Finalists presented their creations to local judges who assessed them on originality, taste, presentation, kid friendliness and use of healthy ingredients.
Having enjoyed making his own Nathan Salad, sixth-grader Nathan Figueroa of Phil D. Swing shared his own feeling on the competition fun.
“It was pretty fun making healthy food that tastes really good,” Nathan said.
Trying some of the tasty treats, BESD Superintendent Ron Garcia and Sodexo Inc. hope to continue the competition next year and for years to come.
Staff Writer Celeste Alvarez can be reached at 760-337-3442 or at calvarez@ivpressonline.com
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