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  • 6 people are interested
 

2025 Real Food for Kids Culinary Challenge

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ORGANIZATION: REAL FOOD FOR KIDS

  • 6 people are interested
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Volunteers are needed to support the Real Food for Kids Culinary Challenge, our annual student competition on March 8 at Hayfield Secondary School.

Our students are changing school lunch menus.
And this is the only event where you can see how they do it!

Since 2012, the Real Food for Kids Culinary Challenge has provided students the unique experience of mirroring the responsibilities of school nutrition professionals by creating delicious, healthy school meals that represent the diverse culinary traditions in our school communities. All while staying within the defined nutrition parameters and cost thresholds of the federally funded National School Meal Program.

It is the only professional culinary competition open to both middle and high school students, and the only competition where students have an opportunity to see their recipe adapted and served on school lunch lines around the Greater Metropolitan Region.

Volunteers may rotate through different assignments throughout the day as event needs shift. ALL volunteers may participate in the Public Tasting where they can sample dishes by student teams, celebrated DC chefs and local restaurants.

Volunteer positions may include (but not be limited to):

  • Team Escorts: ensure assigned school/team stay on schedule and support needs they may have
  • Judges Liaisons: guide judges to Judges Room, manage team times before the judges and assist with awards during ceremony
  • Registration: check in registrants and assist with directions and school entry points
  • Ambassadors: assist registrants with locating Demo and Public Tasting Rooms, distribute event programs, circulate during Public Tasting. Ambassadors will be wearing vegetable costumes that can be slipped on over street clothing.
  • Chef Demos: assist local chefs with demo preparation and plating of samples for the Public Tasting

The Real Food for Kids Culinary Challenge gives volunteers the opportunity to see how students are changing the face of school food and the health of their schools. Please join us for this extraordinary day.

More opportunities with REAL FOOD FOR KIDS

No additional volunteer opportunities at this time.

About REAL FOOD FOR KIDS

Location:

6166 Hardy Drive, McLean, VA 22101, US

Mission Statement

Real Food for Kids is committed to collaborating with school communities to elevate the quality and character of school food; developing and delivering programs that advance literacy in nutrition and health; and engaging students, parents and schools in building a culture of health that spreads to their homes and communities.

Description

In 2010, a group of parents in Northern Virginia united in a mission to improve the quality of food served in Fairfax County Public Schools.

Like many school districts across the country, FCPS had transitioned in the 1970s to cafeteria models that relied on highly processed, shelf-stable foods, that could be warmed and served, but that, despite meeting USDA standards for meals that could be served to students, contained high levels of additives, dyes and preservatives. The lack of quality, taste and appeal had led to declining participation rates; students receiving free-and-reduced meals often discarded unwanted food, leaving them hungry.

Concerned about the alarming rise in childhood obesity and diabetes and the decline in healthy nutritional habits being formed in many communities, Real Food for Kids was created, advocating to bring about change that ensured what students were eating in the cafeteria connected with health lessons in the classroom, supporting the development of strong health habits and good food choices.

Today, Real Food for Kids has been recognized as one of the most successful parent advocacy organizations working in this space. Our work has always been based on collaboration, bringing solutions to this complex problem forward with diverse stakeholders who also believe that school food can be a catalyst for change in our communities.

CAUSE AREAS

Children & Youth
Health & Medicine
Hunger
Children & Youth, Health & Medicine, Hunger

WHEN

Sat Mar 08, 2025
08:00 AM - 02:00 PM

WHERE

7630 Telegraph RoadAlexandria, VA 22315

(38.75031,-77.14456)
 

SKILLS

GOOD FOR

N/A

REQUIREMENTS

  • This is a Done in a Day opportunity and there is no prior training or ongoing commitment needed.
  • Must be at least 18
  • Orientation or Training
  • 6 hours
  • Event Volunteers should plan to arrive at Hayfield no later than 8:00 AM for a brief orientation and assignments. Volunteers arriving late will be asked to wait until an assignment can be given.

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