MIAMI, Fla. – Milk, cheese, yogurt. Those are just some of the dairy products that can be used to create a delicious recipe. Students from Veterans Park Academy, Everglades Elementary School, Christ Lutheran School and Christa McAuliffe Middle School will put their dairy-based recipes to the test at the annual Gridiron Cooking Challenge.
“Dairy is an important part of our everyday diets – and that’s especially true for children,” said Teresa Moran-Wiebe, Director Youth Wellness. “This event gives students the tools they need to make healthier decisions, coupled with hands-on learning. Each year, we love seeing what the kids come up with!”
This year’s finalists from the Miami area are:
Veterans Park Academy for the Arts, Lehigh Acres
Recipe: 3 Cheese Ravioli in a Shallot, Tomato Cream Sauce
Everglades Elementary School, West Palm Beach
Recipe: Creamy Curry Chicken
Christ Lutheran School, Port St. Lucie
Recipe: Raspberry Yogurt and Cheesecake Parfait Trifle
Christa McAuliffe Middle School, Boynton Beach
Recipe: Quick Bite Tacos
The Gridiron Cooking Challenge is designed and supported by the Florida Dairy Farmers. It is part of the Fuel Up to Play 60 initiative, an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by the National Dairy Council and NFL to help encourage today’s youth to lead healthier lives.
The teams will compete on Saturday, April 21, at Baptist Health Training Facility at Nova Southeastern University. The event is free and open to the public. A select group of distinguished professionals including a Florida dairy farmer, a Fuel Up to Play 60 Student Ambassador, Executive Chef Bob Gilardi at Doctors Hospital, Christy Denney, author of the blog The Girl Who Ate Everything and a Publix Aprons chef will judge the creations. There will be photo opportunities with Miami Dolphins defensive end, Cameron Wake, Dolphins’ mascot, TD, and Dairy Council of Florida’s mascot, Merry Moo. The winning team will receive a prize pack for its school valued at up to $2,500. Each student on the winning team will receive a tablet, among other prizes.
Tickets to the event can be reserved online through Eventbrite.
About Dairy Council of Florida
The Dairy Council of Florida works with schools, health professionals, social service agencies and others to educate Floridians on the health benefits of milk and other nutrient-rich dairy foods. Dairy Council of Florida programs are funded by Florida Dairy Farmers, which represents more than 120 dairy farming families throughout the state. For more information, call 800-516-4443 or visit www.floridamilk.com.
About Florida Dairy Farmers
Florida Dairy Farmers is Florida’s milk promotion group, working to raise awareness of the dairy farming industry and the nutrient-rich foods it provides. FDF represents more than 120 dairy farming families throughout the state. For more information, call 407-647-8899 or visit www.floridamilk.com.
About Fuel Up to Play 60
Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by National Dairy Council and NFL, in collaboration with the U. S Department of Agriculture, to help encourage today’s youth to lead healthier lives. In Florida, 2.5 million students in 3,100 schools participate in Fuel Up to Play 60.
Source: Florida Dairy Farmers
