Students stir up healthful eating at Dallas Arboretum

Brandon Wade/Special Contributor
Twelve-year-olds Anna Walker (left) and Sydney Love entered their Viva Vegan Tostada with Black Bean Spread in Sunday’s Gardenlicious Kids Cook-Off.
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Three top Dallas chefs and restaurateurs had a chance to meet their up-and-coming competition Sunday at the Dallas Arboretum.

First- through eighth-graders showed off their best efforts in the Gardenlicious Kids Cook-Off, an event promoting healthful eating among children.

“I think it’s very important to keep kids involved and keep them enthused in what they’re doing,” said Abacus chef Kent Rathbun, who judged the contest with Scott Gottlich of Bijoux and Lynae Fearing of Shinsei.

Each of the 13 finalists had to create a recipe that incorporated at least one ingredient found in the arboretum’s Incredible Edible Garden gallery.

Some chose corn, while others others focused on blueberries or zucchini. And the competitors weren’t afraid to get adventurous; one of the standout dishes was an avocado chocolate mousse.

Seven-year-old Jane Taten, who won the Grades 1 and 2 division, picked a muffin recipe that included zucchini and carrots.

“My grandma likes to make these muffins,” she said.

Gottlich, who brought his own sons to the event, praised it for showcasing gardening and good nutrition.

Finalist Emma Baker showed she’d taken the event’s message to heart with her Red and Yellow Hummus recipe.

“There’s lots of good vitamins in tomatoes and fiber in chickpeas,” said Baker, who competed in the Grades 3 and 4 division.

Families at the event had a chance to gather information from booths run by organizations such as the American Heart Association and the Young Chefs Academy. Children planted seeds they could take home to watch grow.

After the young culinary artists had their work critiqued, they got a chance to judge their judges’ work, too.

Rathbun, who has promised to teach a cooking class for the finalists, made hummus for them to try.

But Gottlich, who prepared smoothies as his entry, had the winning formula.

“The key to cooking for kids is to create something healthy that also tastes good — and sweet,” he said.

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