All About Nutrition: NBC 17 Features Chef Challenge

Monday, May 2, 2011

NBC 17 Features Chef Challenge

NBC 17 was among the news media outlets to cover the recent Chatham County Chef Challenge. View it via the link below.

http://www.mycarolinatoday.com/2011/04/healthier-lunches-in-chatham-county-schools/

Chef Challenge Timeline

Manager Training: March 30 QuickTime Movie, 920 KB

Cookoff: April 13, 2011 / 11:00 a.m.

Judging: 12 noon

Location: TBA

Project Information

The Chef Challenge is intended to reach students, staff, parents, media and the surrounding community.

Objectives

1. Educate the students on the importance of making healthy lunch choices.

2. Increase the amount of fresh vegetables/fruits that are offered and consumed by the students.

3. Increase participation in the school lunch program.

4. Educate parents on the school lunch program and debunk current “myths” about the program.

5. Gain support and endorsement for the school lunch program in the greater Chatham County community.

Strategy

Utilize professional chefs from well known, local restaurants to reinterpret some of the more popular menus for each grade level. Each chef will create three dishes, one for each grade level throughout the Chatham County school system. The students will be served each chef’s dish and will vote on their favorite.

Chef Challenge

Utilizing existing menu, school equipment and USDA requirements create a healthy and delicious meal the children will pay for and eat. Teach the staff how to prepare the meals and help educate them on simple and effective ways to increase vegetables/fruits in favorite meals.

Program Partners

* Abundance Foundation, The

* Briar Chapel by Newland Communities

* CCCC - Pittsboro Campus

* Chef Colin Bedford of the Fearrington House Restaurant

* Chef Steve Caldwell of The Natural Chef Culinary Program Chefs at Central Carolina Community College (CCCC)

* Chef Jimmy Reale of the Crossroads at Carolina Inn