ST. THOMAS - Ulla Muller Elementary School student Sakari Clendinen will meet first lady Michelle Obama next week and get to have lunch at the White House. Sakari was this year's Virgin Islands winner in the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge, a recipe contest for children sponsored by Epicurious and the first lady's "Let's Move" initiative. Sakari is one of 54 winners, selected from all 50 states, three territories and Phillies 6 Ryan Howard Blue 2010 All Star Jerseys Washington, D.C., to participate in the annual "Kids' State Dinner" at the White House on Tuesday. The group of student chefs will join the first lady for a healthy lunch, featuring some of the winning recipes and a performance by singer Rachel Crow. Weather permitting, the children and their families then will take a tour of the Rays 13 Carl Crawford Home Cool Base White 2010 All Star Jerseys White House kitchen garden. Sakari loves to bake with her grandmother, Kathleen Taylor, who also is the school nurse at Ulla Muller School. "I'm always harping on her about eating healthy," Taylor said. The contest invited a parent or guardian to work with a child, age 8-12, to create a healthy and delicious lunchtime meal. Sakari's favorite food to make is pancakes, so Taylor worked with her to create a healthy pancake recipe. "So, I came up with zucchini pancakes," Taylor said. All recipe entries had to comply with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's "MyPlate" nutritional criteria. The "MyPlate" system recently replaced the food pyramid as a way for people to ensure they eat balanced meals. Contest entries had to represent each of the food groups, either in one dish or as parts of a lunch meal, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and low-fat dairy foods, with fruits and vegetables making up roughly half the plate or recipe. Taylor said Sakari loved shredding the zucchini in the food processor and separating the eggs. To garnish the pancakes, they made a greek yogurt and cream cheese mixture to dollop on top. In order to make the lunch recipe fit the "MyPlate" criteria, the grandmother and granddaughter duo decided to make a fruit smoothie. "We make smoothies all the time, because I have a lot of fresh fruit growing in the yard," Taylor said. They made a passion fruit and banana smoothie using greek yogurt, honey and ice to make the frozen blended treat. Only 8 years old, Sakari does not fully comprehend the experience she is about to have, according to Taylor. However, Taylor, who is attending the White House luncheon with Sakari, is thrilled. "I'm really excited. I'm just beside myself," Taylor said. This is the second year of the first lady's recipe challenge, and Sakari is the second V.I. student to meet Obama and eat lunch at the White House. Ulla Muller Elementary School sixth-grader Gabriel Reed Jr. and his mother, Vanessa Wilkinson, were chosen last year. "Our Kids' State Dinner is one of my favorite events of the year, and the kid chefs who come from around the country never cease to impress and inspire me with their creativity and ingenuity. I'm counting down the days until the winners join me at the White House to celebrate these healthy and delicious meals that kids everywhere will love," Obama said in a written statement. - Contact reporter Aldeth Lewin at 714-9111 or email alewin@dailynews.vi.
ST. THOMAS - Ulla Muller Elementary School student Sakari Clendinen will meet first lady Michelle Obama next week and get to have lunch at the White House.
ReplyDeleteSakari was this year's Virgin Islands winner in the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge, a recipe contest for children sponsored by Epicurious and the first lady's "Let's Move" initiative.
Sakari is one of 54 winners, selected from all 50 states, three territories and Phillies 6 Ryan Howard Blue 2010 All Star Jerseys Washington, D.C., to participate in the annual "Kids' State Dinner" at the White House on Tuesday.
The group of student chefs will join the first lady for a healthy lunch, featuring some of the winning recipes and a performance by singer Rachel Crow. Weather permitting, the children and their families then will take a tour of the Rays 13 Carl Crawford Home Cool Base White 2010 All Star Jerseys White House kitchen garden.
Sakari loves to bake with her grandmother, Kathleen Taylor, who also is the school nurse at Ulla Muller School.
"I'm always harping on her about eating healthy," Taylor said.
The contest invited a parent or guardian to work with a child, age 8-12, to create a healthy and delicious lunchtime meal.
Sakari's favorite food to make is pancakes, so Taylor worked with her to create a healthy pancake recipe.
"So, I came up with zucchini pancakes," Taylor said.
All recipe entries had to comply with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's "MyPlate" nutritional criteria. The "MyPlate" system recently replaced the food pyramid as a way for people to ensure they eat balanced meals.
Contest entries had to represent each of the food groups, either in one dish or as parts of a lunch meal, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and low-fat dairy foods, with fruits and vegetables making up roughly half the plate or recipe.
Taylor said Sakari loved shredding the zucchini in the food processor and separating the eggs.
To garnish the pancakes, they made a greek yogurt and cream cheese mixture to dollop on top.
In order to make the lunch recipe fit the "MyPlate" criteria, the grandmother and granddaughter duo decided to make a fruit smoothie.
"We make smoothies all the time, because I have a lot of fresh fruit growing in the yard," Taylor said.
They made a passion fruit and banana smoothie using greek yogurt, honey and ice to make the frozen blended treat.
Only 8 years old, Sakari does not fully comprehend the experience she is about to have, according to Taylor.
However, Taylor, who is attending the White House luncheon with Sakari, is thrilled.
"I'm really excited. I'm just beside myself," Taylor said.
This is the second year of the first lady's recipe challenge, and Sakari is the second V.I. student to meet Obama and eat lunch at the White House.
Ulla Muller Elementary School sixth-grader Gabriel Reed Jr. and his mother, Vanessa Wilkinson, were chosen last year.
"Our Kids' State Dinner is one of my favorite events of the year, and the kid chefs who come from around the country never cease to impress and inspire me with their creativity and ingenuity. I'm counting down the days until the winners join me at the White House to celebrate these healthy and delicious meals that kids everywhere will love," Obama said in a written statement.
- Contact reporter Aldeth Lewin at 714-9111 or email alewin@dailynews.vi.