PORT ANGELES — The fifth-grade creator of Gluten Free Banana Bread won the overall grand champion award in the 2016 Future Chefs Challenge.
The snack, made by Kara Meyer of Dry Creek, was voted the top prize by taste testers at the contest for Port Angeles elementary school students in the high school cafeteria March 11.
The contest was sponsored by Sodexo.
Other winners, all fifth-graders, were:
■ Abby Sanford of Roosevelt Elementary, who won the Most Original award for Savory Northwest Crepes.
■ Lily Halberg of Jefferson Elementary, who won the Healthiest Attributes award for Breakfast Burrito.
■ Cindy Liang of Franklin Elementary, who won the Best Tasting award for Savory Parmesan Crusted French Toast.
The Best Table Decorating Award was awarded to Hamilton Elementary students Faith Carr, Reid Schmidt and Angelina Thompson-Jones.
Fifteen students
Fifteen Port Angeles students participated in the district-wide finals event after being selected from a field of 52 entries.
Finalists prepared and presented their creations before being assessed on criteria including originality, healthful attributes, ease of preparation, kid appeal, plate presentation, use of featured ingredients and taste.
Finalists, listed by school and grade, who participated in the Future Chefs Challenge and their healthful snacks are:
■ Dry Creek Elementary — Meyer; Khia Schoenfeldt, Breakfast Casserole; and Katelyn Schoville, Banana Pancakes with Kale Berry Smoothie, all fifth-graders.
■ Franklin Elementary — Liang; Lillien Erlwein, Mini Quiches; and Sara Holland, Mini Pancake Bites, all fifth-graders.
■ Hamilton Elementary — Thompson Jones, Pancake Sandwich; Schmidt, Reids’ Rockin’ Omelet; and Carr, Canadian Pancakes, all fourth-graders.
■ Jefferson Elementary — Halberg; Hannah Anderson, Tatertot Frittata, fifth grade; and Madisyn Heistand, Apple and Strawberry Muffins, fourth grade.
■ Roosevelt Elementary — Sanford; Tony McMahan, Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins, fourth grade; and Alezandra Fitsimmons, Nieche’s Quiches, fifth grade.
The national initiative, which is in its sixth year, was created to get students thinking about making healthful food choices while also encouraging them to get active and creative in the kitchen.
Port Angeles joins approximately 230 other school districts across the country holding Future Chefs events throughout February and March.
The winning student from each participating district will be considered for regional finalist awards, and the selected regional finalists will vie to become one of five national finalists competing for the public’s vote on a special Future Chefs YouTube channel.
