THE next Mary Berry/ Catherine Fulvio/ Neven Maguire could be right here in Limerick and about to be discovered with the launch of the city’s ‘Young Chef of the Year’ award 2019.
This is a project developed by The Food Teacher team in the UK to improve long-term health by educating children and their families about food and nutrition.
The award was first launched in 2017 in Lancashire through the Healthier Fleetwood initiative supported by Dr Mark Spencer GP. 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 Limerick primary schools, St Patrick’s GNS on the Dublin Road and Our Lady of Lourdes NS, Rosbrien, 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 and 6th classes (ages 10-12) taking up the challenge will be designing a ‘Meal for their Hero’ comprised of soup, main course, dessert and a drink, all for under €10 worth of ingredients.
Children will learn chef skills, seasonality, cooking methods, food hygiene and safety, where food comes from and how to eat healthy.
Among the resources available to the schools will be videos from Katharine Tate (The Food Teacher™, director) and Harry Lomas MBE.
For further information on the competition see https://youngchefoftheyear.co.uk
