Cooking Up Academic Success for School Lunch: 2013

Article May 14, 2014 Read time:

Projects: Kids’ Safe and Healthful Food Project

On June 10, 2013, eight teams of students from across the country travelled to Washington, D.C., to compete in Cooking Up Change—a national contest that challenges high school students to cook meals that meet nutrition standards and can be easily replicated in schools. Hosted by Healthy Schools Campaign, Cooking Up Change is a dynamic culinary competition that puts student voices front-and-center in the national conversation about school food.

Here are a few profiles of some of those enterprising student chefs who participated in the competition.

Anna Simeonides

Student chef Anna Simeonides was part of the winning team at the 2013 Cooking Up Change^® competition in Winston-Salem, N.C. Her team made a delicious lunch that meets the nutrition standards, budget, and preparation limits that schools must follow every day. Anna explains why healthy school foods are so important to her and her classmates.

Jennifer Esquivel

Student chef Jennifer Esquivel was part of the Bruce Randolph School's winning team at the 2013 Cooking Up Change^® competition in Denver. Her team served up a colorful, appetizing lunch that meets the nutrition standards, budget, and preparation limits that schools must follow every day. Jennifer talks about the ways schools can help introduce kids to healthy food that they will love.

Tavarious Cleaves

Student chef Tavarious Cleaves was part of Craigmont High School's winning team at the 2013 Cooking Up Change^® competition in Memphis. His team created a Southern-inspired lunch that meets the nutrition standards, budget, and preparation limits that schools must follow every day.

Tavarious talks about their winning meal and why he is committed to making school food healthier

Leon Sanchez

Inspired by his grandmother, Sanchez started cooking to make positive changes in his life. Cooking healthy food became a new passion for him, especially, he says, because it can help kids his age lead longer, healthier lives.