Greenville, SC – In 2015, euphoria introduced their signature kids cooking competition – Healthy Lunchtime Throwdown – a new feature of their food and music festival which draws more than 6,000 people for a four-day weekend featuring nationally acclaimed chefs, celebrity singers and songwriters, and unique luxury experiences.
After a wildly successful first year celebrating the skills and culinary achievements of Greenville’s young chefs, euphoria kicks off their 2nd annual Healthy Lunchtime Throwdown, and expands the age bracket to include teens ages 13 to 16. “As a signature culinary event for Greenville and the Southeast, it’s important to euphoria that we make a real contribution toward promoting healthy eating among children. We’re proud to expand upon our healthy food message this year by welcoming teens into our competition,” explained euphoria Festival Director, Brianna Shaw.
On March 3rd, euphoria will gather at Dr. Phinnize J. Fisher Middle School to kick off their 2nd annual Healthy Lunchtime Throwdown. euphoria 2015’s contest winner, Sarah Walker, will be on hand as the Middle School begins serving her 2015 winning recipe, Chicken Creole – a recipe she adapted from her family’s cookbook. (Walker, a 5th grader, currently attends A.J. Whittenburg Elementary School, and will be a student at Dr. Phinnize J. Fisher Middle School next year.) All other Greenville County Schools will also begin offering her healthy dish on March 3rd, including 52 elementary schools, 23 middle schools and 20 high schools. (Greenville County School district is South Carolina’s largest school district.) euphoria’s Brianna Shaw will speak about this years’ competition, as well as Live Well Greenville’s Director Sally Wills and Culinary Specialist Ron Jones from Greenville County Schools.
March 3rd: The Cafeteria, Dr. Phinnize J. Fisher Middle School,
700 Millennium Blvd, Greenville, SC, 11:30am-12:30pm
The Healthy Lunchtime Throwdown is a cooking competition open to all Greenville County Schools students between the ages of 8 and 12, and 13 to 16. Students are invited to submit their original, healthy, affordable and delicious recipes online beginning March 3rd (through July 1st) at www.euphoriagreenville.com/kidsrecipe.
Entrants of the Healthy Lunchtime Throwdown contest are required to submit original recipes that adhere to My Plate guidelines, are healthy, delicious and economical. Based on these criteria, 2 finalists from each age bracket will be selected by a panel of local judges in July, and will be announced in August 2016. These finalists will participate in a live cook-off – an event euphoria has designed to be family-friend and complimentary (all ages are welcome to attend, at no cost).
Judges for the live cooking competitions on the euphoria Culinary Stage on Sunday, September 25, 2016 will include an editor of Cooking Light, the nation’s healthy recipe experts. And, Michelin-starred chefs who participate in euphoria – including three star MICHELIN Chef Curtis Duffy of Grace in Chicago, IL – will play “sous chef” to the students during their competitions.
The winning recipe will be featured on CookingLight.com and offered in all Greenville County Schools during the 2016-2017 school year, and the winning student will receive a prize from sponsors LiveWell Greenville and Mill Village Farms.
The euphoria contest is modeled after First Lady Michelle Obama’s Healthy Lunchtime Challenge and Kids’ State Dinner, an annual event that promotes healthy eating and healthy lifestyles for children across the United States.
About Greenville County Schools
“Greenville County Schools is dedicated to providing fresh, healthy meals each day during the school year to the district’s nearly 74,000 students, and we encourage kids to take an active role in making healthy food choices year-round,” said Joe Urban, director of Greenville County Schools Food and Nutrition Services. “This contest provides an exciting opportunity to help children across our community understand the importance of balanced nutrition – not to mention the fact that cooking and eating healthy can be fun and rewarding,” added Urban.
About euphoria
What began in 2006 as a festival highlighting Greenville, SC’s culture, depth of talent and outstanding revitalized downtown, now draws nationally acclaimed chefs, celebrity singers and songwriters, craft brewers, Master Sommeliers and more for a euphoric four-day weekend. Proceeds from euphoria Food, Wine + Music Festival benefit charitable organizations that provide sustenance to those in need, educate through music, and support children in need across the Upstate of South Carolina.
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www.euphoriagreenville.com