29 Apr 2019 MEMBERS’ NEWS – Katherine Tate Launches Young Chef of the Year Award, Ireland
YOUNG CHEF OF THE YEAR AWARD LAUNCHES IN IRELAND
A future Gordon Ramsey or Mary Berry could be discovered in Limerick with the launch of the ‘Young Chef of the Year’ award 2019. This is a project developed in the UK The Food Teacher™ team to improve long-term health by educating children and their families about food and nutrition.
The award was first launched in 2017 in Lancashire, UK through the Healthier Fleetwood initiative supported by GP Dr Mark Spencer. He explains how the idea behind the award is making a difference, “Cooking is great fun and brings families and friends together. Getting children interested in cooking and improving their nutritional knowledge is a great initiative.”
Two Primary schools in Limerick, with the support of nutrition coach and teacher Evelyn Hartigan and funding from the JP McManus Charitable Foundation, will be taking part this year. Students in 5th/6th classes (ages 10-12) taking up the challenge will be designing a ‘Meal for their Hero’ of soup, main course, dessert and a drink for under €10. Along the way, the children will learn chef skills, seasonality, cooking methods, food hygiene and safety, where food comes from and healthy diets. The teaching will also cross over into other curriculum areas such as English, Mathematics, Geography, Science and Social Personal and Health Education.
Coordinating the challenge with the programme of activities and resources is The Food Teacher™ team (teachers and nutritional therapist) who feel, “Teaching children the importance of food for their health is essential and this challenge provides that opportunity within a practical, purposeful and engaging context.”
Among the resources available to the schools will be videos from Katharine Tate (The Food Teacher™, Director) and Harry Lomas MBE. “Chef Harry has been instrumental in developing essential chef skills into the awards to motivate and interest children in food, cooking, presentation and hospitality.” Katharine added.
Evelyn sums up, “Eating the right food can bring about major health benefits both physically and mentally for all of us. So, let’s get cooking!”
For further information on the competition see https://youngchefoftheyear.co.uk
