Houston Culinary Students Ready To Cook Up For A Change

HOUSTON, TX — A trip to the nation's capital is on the line for a group of Houston ISD culinary students, but for now it's on the back burner. Students from three different HISD high schools will compete against each other at the local Cooking Up Change at the Art Institute of Houston in April. The winner gets a trip to Washington, D.C. for the national finals in June.

These HISD students will slice and dice their way to a winning healthy recipe in this competition that's a culinary competition challenging high school students to create healthy meals that meet the real-life nutritional and cost requirements of the national school meal program.

Seven teams from Northside, Milby and Westside high schools will spend the next two months getting ready to go head-to-head on April 21, attempting to wow the judges and claim the winning dish.

"This is a great opportunity for all of our students," said Courtney Tucker, Milby High School culinary teacher and first-time participant in the competition. "It gives them a chance to better understand the process and nutritional value behind the school lunch programs."

Participating students must follow a rigorous recipe development process using a limited list of ingredients to create dishes that are low in calories, fat, sugar and sodium. It's even more challenging for HISD students as the district has adopted more stringent nutritional requirements than what is federally-mandated.

Adding to the technical requirements, the meals they create must also taste great and appeal to their peers — a delicate balance that school lunch programs across the nation must achieve.

Meals will be judged on originality, taste, texture and appearance. Each dish must include a grain, meat or meat alternative, fruit and vegetable.
This is the fourth year HISD students have participated in the competition. Northside High School culinary teacher and four-time participant David Hill said he and his students are excited about the challenge.
"We are looking forward to seeing if we can do what the HISD Nutrition Services staff does on a daily basis," Hill said.

Photo courtesy of Houston Independent School District