Eligibility
Children ages 3-17 that reside and go to school in the state of Maryland. There will be 4 categories: PreK (Parent & Me), Elementary, Middle and High School. Children must attend public or private school or be homeschooled. Schools must be certified with the state of Maryland to be eligible to win a prize. If selected as a finalist, children/teens in the Elementary, Middle and High School categories must be able to cook their recipe independent of a parent or guardian. Children in PreK must cook complete recipe with parent/guardian.
Important Dates
3/1/2015 – 4/13/2016 – Registration is OPEN
4/17/2016 – Finalists announced
4/30/2015 – Healthy Kids Cook-Off – April 30th 10:00-11:30am Hosted at the YMCA, Ellicott City, Maryland
Winners & Prizes
There will be a total of four (4) winners, one (1) in each of the following categories:
Category 1: PreK (Parent & Me)
Category 2: Elementary School
Category 3: Middle School
Category 4: High School
The prizes will be as follows for the Healthy Cook (Child/Youth ages 4-17):
PreK (Parent & Me) Winner = $250.00 Cash Prize
Elementary School Winner = $250.00 Cash Prize
Middle School Winner = $250.00 Cash Prize
High School Winner = $250.00 Cash Prize
School Prizes
This competition is a great way for students to raise money for their schools! In addition to finalists winning an award, the Winning Student’s school will receive Healthy Cooking GRANT for $250.00. If a student is being homeschooled, they will receive a GRANT for $100.00 for their academic education and we will donate $150.00 to the charity of your choice. The school grants for EACH category are allocated as follows for the finalist’s school:
– Public School (PreK, Elementary School, Middle School, High School) = $250.00
– Private School (must be registered with the state of Maryland) = $250.00
– Home School = $150.00 for Personal Education + $100.00 to charity of your choice
*For all School Grants, we ask that you school submits to us a video 30 seconds – 2 minutes in length, sharing how the Healthy Little Cooks grant has helped your school eat or cook healthier!
How Schools Can Encourage Students to Participate:
* If a student wins from your school, your school will win a Healthy Cooking Grant for $250.00. So, the more students from your school that enter the competition, the greater your chances are for winning the grant. Here are a few ways you can encourage your students to participate:
#1 Promote the Cook-off in your school newsletter, website, PTA/PTO events, at your wellness night, FACS Classes and after school programs.
#2 Send cook-off flyer home with students. download healthy kids cook-off flyer here
#3 Send cook-off submission deadline reminder to students one week before cook-off deadline, Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Rules
- All recipes must be prepared in 45 minutes or less and be healthy or healthier versions of traditionally unhealthy foods.
- No frying or baking allowed.
- Recipes cannot contain added shortening or butter (margarine allowed).
All recipes must contain at least 2 vegetables. - Recipes must be able to be duplicated by the student if they become a finalist during the cook-off. Each finalist will receive the assistance of a culinary coach curing the cook-off.
Judging Criteria
Recipes must fit one of two categories:
#1 Original Creation (a unique recipe crafted by you)
#2 Healthy Recipe Makeover (a traditionally unhealthy recipe with a healthy twist).
If selected as a finalist, all recipes must be completed within 45 minutes or less during the LIVE Cook-off.
Finalist Selection Process
Submitted recipes will be judged and finalist recipes selected based on the following percentage points:
Recipe health factor – (25%)
Photograph of Recipe / Presentation – (25%)
Personal Narrative – (20%)
Originality/Creativity – (20%)
Use of accessible ingredients – (5%)
Duplicability – (5%)
The eight (8) Recipes that have the percentage ranking will be considered Finalists and will cook their recipes LIVE Maryland Healthy Kids Cook-Off hosted at the Howard County Y, Ellicott City on Saturday, April 30th. There will be two finalist selected in each category as follows:
Two (2) Finalists – PreK (Kid & Parent) – Must cook recipe with parent/guardian
Two (2) Finalists – Elementary School – Must cook recipe independently
Two (2) Finalists – Middle School – Must cook recipe independently
Two (2) Finalists – High School – Must cook recipe independently
In case of a tie, Healthy Little Cooks will select the Finalist.
Winning Recipe Judging Process
At the LIVE Maryland Healthy Kids Cook-Off Event, hosted on April 30th, finalist recipes will be judged and winners selected based on the following percentage system:
Taste – (50%)
Food’s Appearance/Presentation – (25%)
Chef’s Confidence and Culinary Skills – (15%)
Time – (10%)
In case of a percentage tie, judges will select the Winning Cook.