Congratulations
Marshall Academy!
Winner of the 2018 Real Food for Kids'
Culinary Challenge
BLACK BEAN TAQUITOS
ROASTED VEGETABLE MEDLEY
CHILE CON FRUTA
Marshall High School Culinary Academy Takes 5 Star Award at Real Food for Kids' Culinary Challenge & Wellness Expo
Marshall Culinary Academy students Bryce Daniels, Linda Mach, Alex Siviter and Coleman Wirth, under the direction of Chef Ciaran Devlin, took the top prize at last Saturday's Culinary Challenge & Wellness Expo, with their meal of Black Bean Taquitos, Roasted Vegetable Medley and Chile con Fruta.

The Gold Star Award went to Arabella Cyre, Samantha Duncan, Henry Porter and Dianna Rivera from Sandburg Middle School, led by Family & Consumer Sciences Teacher, Heather Jones, with their Black Bean Burger with Mock Guac and Kale Apple Salad.

Lake Braddock Secondary School took the Silver Star Award with their unique Somalian Hashi with Rice and Tofu paired with sliced peaches and Greek yogurt. Students Garrett DeJesus, Leslie Fernandez, Diana Nguyen and Ayasha Wariach were led by Family and Consumer Sciences teachers Toshieba Ragland and Thom Prassa.

Fairfax County plus five other school divisions have committed to putting the winning dish on their lunch menu as well as consider other creations from the competition.

Some highlights from the
2018 Culinary Challenge & Wellness Expo
Our winning teams...
5 STAR WINNER
Marshall Academy
GOLD STAR
Sandburg Middle School
SILVER STAR
Lake Braddock Secondary School
Behind the scenes...
Judges Chef Brian Head of Fairfax County School Nutrition Services and celebrity chef David Guas of Bayou Bakery confer over the Marshall Academy entry (above). Sandburg's Black Bean Burger and Kale Salad is presented to the judges (below).
Franklin Middle School's team presents their Sticky Cauliflower, Sunny Stir Fry and Asian Fruit Salad to the judges.

Judges Jocelyn Hsu of RFFK and Brian Head test Sandburg Middle School's dish.
Student judges Emma Choi and Lauren Delwiche taste Lake Braddock's Somalian Hashi with Rice and Tofu.
One of our many student volunteers prepares for a very busy day.
Partners' Hall...
Natalie Kannan, Giant Food In-Store Nutritionist talks with parents and students in the Partners' Hall. Other exhibitors included sponsors VegFund and Silver Diner, along with Action for Healthy Kids, Forward Food, Art Institutes, Fairfax Farmers Markets, FCCLA, FarmRaiser, Fairfax Food Council, George Mason University, FCPS Service Learning, Innovation Health, INOVA, Johnson & Wales University, KIND, Stratford University and Virginia Cooperative Extension.
A student spins the wheel with Kate Garsson of INOVA's Healthy Plate Club.
Andrew Uncles of Chantilly Culinary Academy checks out materials from VegFund , our Principal Sponsor.
Plenary Program...
Master of Ceremonies
Chef Ype Von Hengst
Silver Diner
Chef Ype led the Plenary program of demos and panel discussions and shared the story of Silver Diner's transformation to one of the top rated healthy family meal restaurants.
Food Writer and Recipe Developer Kristen Hartke makes Cashew Cream with students from the Chantilly Culinary Academy, Andrew Uncles, Nora Kelly and Leon Tan.
RFFK's Mary Porter leads students from GMU's graduate program at the School of Food and Nutrition Studies in a discussion about the new Nutrition Facts Labels.

The School of Food and Nutrition Studies is scheduled to start an undergraduate program in Spring 2019.
And so much more...
A young foodie in the Tasting Room, sponsored by Silver Diner.
Attendees sample the dishes by competition and showcase teams in the Tasting Room.
Egg and Kale Breakfast Muffins from West Potomac's Breakfast Showcase Team (above). A member of West Potomac's Snack Team shares Fruit and Nutella Rollups (below).
Thanks to our sponsors, partners, teams, judges, speakers, panelists and volunteers for an incredible event!
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Real Food for Kids collaborates with school communities to elevate the quality and character of school food; develop and deliver programs that advance literacy in nutrition and health; and engage students, parents and schools in building a culture of health that spreads to their homes and communities.