Chefs Move to Schools with Healthy Recipes

Chefs Move to Schools

Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) unveiled for the second consecutive year new school recipes that are “chef inspired, kid approved” at the Chefs Move to Schools event in Orlando, Florida.

For the past five months, elementary, middle and high school students moved from the school cafeteria into the school kitchen under the guidance of award-winning chefs and food service managers to learn about nutrition, and create new menu selections with less sugar, salt, and fat.

At the fast-paced Food Network meets Nickelodeon style event, chefs, students and food service managers showcased their new meat and vegetarian menu items for hundreds of students and staff. It was announced Friday, March 16.

OCPS Chefs Move to Schools is an essential component and inspiration of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative. Led by White House Assistant Chef Sam Kass, senior policy advisor, Chefs Move to Schools is designed to teach children about healthy food options, encourage families and caregivers to make educated meal choices, ensure kids are getting enough physical activity, and advocate for healthier school environments.

A few of the new recipes include: Saigon Vegetable Sandwich with a veggie burger, Sriracha sauce, cilantro and pickled carrots; Beef Taco Lettuce Wrap with lean beef, low fat taco ingredients in a lettuce cap; Veggie Tacos with Mango Guacamole; and Meatball-Palooza Wrap with roasted vegetables & pepper jack cheese.

A booklet of the featured recipes from this year’s Chefs Move to Schools initiative will be given to OCPS students to share and prepare at home with their families.

“The Chefs Move to Schools initiative offers an innovative opportunity to involve and educate our students about foods and nutrition. This interaction with chefs and food service managers offers them a behind-the-scenes perspective of school nutrition,” said Lora Gilbert, senior director, OCPS Food and Nutrition Services (FNS).

Accomplishments made in OCPS through the “Chefs Move to Schools” program have earned the district national recognition and a model for school districts across the country.

The School Nutrition Association, United States Department of Agriculture, Florida Department of Agriculture, American Culinary Federation, Research Chefs Association, Women Chefs & Restaurateurs, and International Corporate Chefs Association all support and participate in Chefs Move to Schools.

In the picture above: Serving up healthy school meals that are ”chef inspired and kid approved”; (left to right) Steve Jayson, Corporate Executive Chef & Vice President Universal Parks & Resorts, Carver Middle School student Netanye Brown, Orange County Public Schools Food & Nutrition Services Senior Director Lora Gilbert, Carver Middle School student Gerdy Desivor and Carver Middle School Food Manager Jeanneth Moreira-Cabrera.