Do you dream of being Chicago's next top chef? If so, don't miss out on this exciting television-style cooking competition featuring celebrity chefs and exciting secret ingredients.
Kids ages 9-13 will compete in two-member teams and will be challenged to create a tasty, healthy and low-cost meal or snack with the help of Kendall College culinary students and Share Our Strength Cooking Matters® nutritionists in the Kendall College professional kitchens. Culinary creations will be judged by an all-star roster of chefs and food experts!
Snacks and prizes will be provided.
During the preliminary cooking competition, parents, guardians and families are invited to attend the Healthy Living Fair, with nutrition and cooking demonstrations and much more!
WHERE
Kendall College, 900 N. North Branch Street, Chicago, IL
WHEN
Sunday, November 4th, 2012 from 12:00 - 4:00 PM
COST, REGISTRATION & WAIVER
Registration to the Healthy Kids Cook Off is $40, but scholarships are available for some participants. Please phone 773.550.8570 for more details.To register, click here. To download the Healthy Kids Cook Off Waiver, click here. Each child must have a signed waiver to participate.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please click the FAQ tab above for important safety and day-of information. For additional information, please call Anna Batcke at 773.550.8570.
2012 Healthy Kids Cook Off
FAQ for Participants and Parent/Guardians
What is the Healthy Kids Cook Off?
The Share Our Strength Healthy Kids Cook Off is a television-style cooking competition for kids ages 9-13. The Cook Off will allow kids the opportunity to show off their cooking skills and creativity while learning to prepare easy, healthy and low-cost meals and snacks with the help of top chefs and nutritionists.
What is No Kid Hungry™?
At Share Our Strength, we believe all children deserve access to the nutritious foods they need to develop to their full potential. We work with local grantees, corporations, government, the culinary community and individuals to surround children with the healthy, nutritious food they need where they live, learn and play.
Why Childhood Hunger?
Hunger prevents kids from reaching their full potential. It’s an epidemic that’s threatening America’s future. In America, nearly 1 in 5 children suffers from food insecurity, or hunger. In Illinois, that number is higher in many communities. Hunger impairs our children’s health in significant and long-lasting ways, including physical, behavioral and cognitive development.
What is Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters®?
For over 15 years, Share our Strength’s Cooking Matters has been a groundbreaking nutrition-education program that connects families with food by teaching them how to prepare healthy, tasty meals on a limited budget. The Healthy Kids Cook Off judging criteria is based on Cooking Matters™ curriculum.
How does the Cook Off work?
Kids may register at www.strength.org/cookoff. Kids are encouraged to register with a friend to form a 2-person team, though single participants are also welcome; we will be happy to find a partner for you. Upon arrival at the event, teams will meet their Kendall College culinary student who will assist them with planning and executing their dish. The competition will be held in the first floor professional kitchens of Kendall College, and each kitchen will be supervised by top chefs and Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters nutritionists.
Each team will be given a work station and pantry of common ingredients. Each kitchen will the reveal a secret ingredient that MUST be included in their dish. Teams must then work with their culinary student volunteer to create a healthy meal or snack with the secret ingredient in 60 minutes. At the end of the 60 minutes, each team’s creation will be judged by a panel of judges made up of celebrity chefs and nutritionists. Each kitchen will award one winning team. The three winning teams — one from each kitchen — will then present their completed dish to a celebrity judges panel in front of a live studio audience.
Am I eligible to participate?
All kids ages 9-13 years old are eligible to register for the event. In order to participate, kids must register online and a parent or guardian must complete and sign a liability waiver. Waivers may be printed and signed in advance of the event and then brought to the event or completed at the event with the child’s parent or guardian present. PLEASE NOTE: If your parent or guardian will not be present with you on the day of the event, the waiver MUST be completed and signed in advance and presented at the event. Additionally, all participants must follow the Rules for Conduct in the Kitchen, and must be dressed in clothing that follows the safety requirements. See Safety.
What about safety?
Safety is a priority at the event. Clothes should be chosen with safety in mind. All participants must wear sturdy shoes with non-skid soles (sneakers or gym shoes are preferred; no open toed shoes, backless clogs or backless shoes, or sandals of any kind) and appropriate clothing, such as long pants. Shorts, short skirts, tank tops or sleeveless tops should not be worn, nor should clothes with ribbons, fringe, strings, or other embellishments that may present a hazard when working in a kitchen or near a stove or oven. Participants who are not dressed appropriately for the kitchens will not be allowed to participate.
Lastly, all participants must follow the rules of the kitchens and listen to all instructions given by the Kitchen Safety Team Members, chefs, nutritionists and culinary students. Failure to follow the rules will result in the teams being disqualified.
How should I prepare for the Healthy Kids Cook Off?
No preparation is necessary! If you have a favorite recipe, you may bring a copy on a sheet of paper or a recipe card to share and inspire your team member and Culinary Student volunteer. It may help you create your idea. If you are interested in teaming up with a friend, remember to put that person’s name in the correct field on the registration form when you register so that you will be assigned to the same team!!
All food and equipment will be provided in the kitchens, and snacks will be provided during the breaks.
What should I bring?
Participants must bring a copy of the liability waiver, signed by a parent or guardian. If your parent or guardian is NOT coming to the event with you, and you are traveling with your team member and their parent/guardian, you must bring a completed and signed liability waiver signed by your parent or guardian. Please call 773.550.8570 for more information. Everything else will be provided.
What if I have a food allergy?
Please indicate your allergy on the registration form in the “dietary restriction/food allergy” field.
We are making every effort to accommodate all children at the event; however, the Kendall Kitchens are professional kitchens that receive exposure daily to a wide variety of food products, including allergens such as tree nuts, peanuts, honey, soy, dairy, shellfish and eggs. We therefore cannot ensure that surfaces, tools and other food products are uncontaminated. If the nature of your child’s allergies are severe and or/life-threatening, and/or result from atmospheric exposure (by skin or air), we STRONGLY encourage you to consider these risks before allowing your child to participate in the competition. Share Our Strength, Kendall College, its agents, representatives, employees, volunteers and any sponsors of the Healthy Kids Cook Off will not be responsible for any damages, causes of action and liability that might arise from your child’s participation in the Healthy Kids Cook Off. Additionally, if your child requires any medication in regard to his/her allergies, we hope you will carry it with you and be present to dispense it in the case that he/she should need it.
What if I have a dietary restriction (such as vegetarian, vegan, kosher, etc.)?
The Kendall College student mentors are prepared to work with children with a variety of dietary restrictions. Please indicate your restriction on the registration form in the “dietary restriction/food allergy” field.
What if I have a physical challenge or disability?
Kendall College’s public facilities are accessible. Please call 773.550.8570 as soon as possible so that accommodations can be made for participants in the kitchens. We look forward to welcoming you.
What time should I arrive?
Please arrive NO LATER than Noon on Sunday, November 4th. Late arrivals may not be accommodated. There will be no refunds for late arrivals.
Where is Kendall College located? How do I get there?
Kendall College is located at 900 North Branch Street in Chicago, 1 block north of the intersection of Halsted and Chicago Avenues.
Driving: Parking is available on the Kendall College campus. Enter on North Branch Street and follow the signs for event parking.
CTA: The #8 Halsted and the #66 Chicago buses stop within 2 blocks of Kendall College. For more information, contact the CTA at 1-888-YOUR-CTA or www.transitchicago.com
How much does it cost to participate?
Registration to the Healthy Kids Cook Off is $40 or $80 per team, but scholarships are available for some participants. Please phone 773.550.8570 for more details.
Adult audience admission is $10. Child audience (non-competing) admission for kids 5-13 is $5.
What activities are available for parents, guardians and family members of the participants at the event?
Parents and guardians are encouraged to take advantage of the nutrition workshops, cooking demonstrations and the Healthy Living Fair at the Healthy Kids Cook Off. Non-participating children are welcome; During the preliminary round of competition, camera crews will be broadcasting the action in the first floor kitchens live in to the Kendall College Auditorium. The event will also be broadcast live on the internet – please stay tuned for broadcast time and website address.
Audience seating for the Cook Off is limited. Parents and non-competing children are encourage to buy their admission tickets in advance at (store link).
Parents or non-participating children will not be allowed in the competition kitchens at any time.
Healthy Kids Cookoff is Presented By:
Sponsored by
