Ridge View students meet the healthy recipe challenge

    DEXTER — Students in the Ridge View Community School’s Cooking Matters teens class were put to the test on Dec. 3 in a healthy recipe challenge that was open to the public for judging.   

Photos courtesy of Piscataquis Public Health Council

COOKING UP SOMETHING GOOD — Participants in the Cooking Matters teens class at the Ridge View Community School spent six weeks learning about healthy recipes, putting their skills to the test in a healthy recipe challenge open to the public for judging. Front, from left, is Kamden Bell, Aino Rudloff-Eastman, Logan Wood, Brandon Higgins and Hilary London (nutrition educator). Back, Morgan Wing, Jada Bubar, Elyce Wingham, Sage Hight, Mrs. Wyman (volunteer) and Sarah LaBrecque (volunteer/student chef).

    Maine SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educator Hilary London, RD, LD, from the Piscataquis Public Health Council, led the 11 teens in their six-week healthy cooking class where students learned a variety of cooking and nutrition education concepts such as choosing whole grains, label reading, how to make healthy snacks and My Plate to develop healthy lifelong skills. The challenge, which was a celebration of the students’ completion of the program, allowed students to share with the public what they learned.
    During the challenge teens prepared two recipes, banana buckwheat pancakes and broccoli macaroni and cheese, and invited those in attendance to taste and score them on selected attributes including most creative, most nutritious, top taste and best presentation. Prizes were awarded to the “Talking Turkey” team who had the highest score.
    Cooking Matters is a national program of Share Our Strength. In Maine, Cooking Matters is implemented by the Good Shepherd Food Bank and the Maine SNAP-Ed and sponsored by Hannaford Supermarkets. Maine SNAP-Ed is funded by the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which is administered by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and implemented through a contract with the University of New England.
    The Piscataquis Public Health Council is a nonprofit, Healthy Maine Partnership serving Piscataquis and parts of Penobscot counties.
    Maine’s SNAP-Ed Program utilizes the Healthy Maine Partnership agencies statewide as access points for SNAP-Ed delivery. The program strives to educate Maine SNAP recipients on low cost, healthy eating and active lifestyles.