What’s on the Menu for the Cooking up Change National Finals

June 05, 2017 | Written By: Healthy Schools Campaign

With tantalizing meals like Tomato Lime Cucumber Wheels, Thai Chicken Roll-ups and Caramelized Pear-pone on the menu at this year’s Cooking up Change National Finals, it promises to be a delicious week for a few lucky judges. Cooking up Change is a culinary competition in which talented high school students battle it out in the kitchen and get to serve their meals on the national stage to Congressional lawmakers to prove that school food can taste great, and be great for you!

In just a week, seven teams from across the country—Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Orange County, Oakland and Phoenix—have earned their way to compete in this year’s national competition. They will be creating meals that prove it is possible to stick to higher nutritional guidelines while still being delicious and affordable. After the recently proposed rollbacks and budget cuts from the administration, it is more important than ever for these students to be part of the conversation in our nation’s capital.

Meet the 2017 Cooking up Change National Finals competitors and their meals:

Boston
Boston Public Schools: Madison Park Technical Vocational High School
Jennifer, SaiAnna and Ashley
Sautéed Chicken, Onions and Peppers with Brown Rice, Fresh Tomato, Corn Salsa and Banana Bites

Chicago
Chicago Public Schools: Richards Career Academy
Jeffrey, Naheishia, Raudel and Edgar
Vesuvio Chicken and Spaghetti, Chopped Caesar Salad and Caramelized Pear-pone

Dallas
Dallas Unified School District: Conrad high School
Jorge, Trishna and Karla
Crispy Chicken Tender Wrap, Sassy Italian Corn and Banana Delight

Detroit
Detroit Public Schools Community District: Frederick Douglass High School
Kyle, Gerald and Andre
Zesty Chicken Rice Bowl, Tomato Lime Cucumber Wheels and Yogurt Splash

Oakland
Oakland Unified School District: Ralph Bunche High School
Jaye and Jimmy
Thai Chicken Roll-up with Dipping Sauce, Steamed Broccoli and Spiced Applesauce

Greater Orange County
Fullerton Joint Union High School District: La Habra High School
Carlos, Yasmin and Isabella
Chicken Kashmir, Pepino Curry and Tropical Kheer

Phoenix
Deer Valley Unified School District: Barry Goldwater High School
Jason and Michael
M&J Curry, Zesty Curried Corn and Potatoes and Darn Good Bananas

We couldn’t put on such a great program without the support of our sponsors: Gold Sponsor, National Food Group; Gold Supporter, Newman’s Own Foundation; National School Nutrition Partner, Aramark; Official Culinary Partner, James Beard Foundation; Official Travel Partner, Southwest; and Silver level sponsor, American Federation of Teachers.