Student's healthy recipe selected

CHESHIRE, Conn. (WTNH) -- Elementary School students in Cheshire have been selected for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Recipes for Healthy Kids Competition, to support the First Lady's "Let's Move!" initiative.

The competition challenged teams of nutrition professionals, chefs, students, parents and other community members to create tasty, kid-approved recipes that schools can use in their National School Lunch Program menus.

Thirty kid-approved recipes have been standardized and compiled into cookbooks to be used in homes, child care centers, and schools.

One of three groups from Cheshire Food and Nutrition Services made recipes for the contest. The Highland Elementary School Team, led by Chef Patricia D'Alessio, and managed by Susan Zentek had their Rainbow Rice Recipe selected.

"Rainbow Rice is exactly that, a colorful rainbow of healthy vegetables, wholesome grains, and protein. Rainbow rice is a great way to introduce children to a variety of grains that are delicious and nutritious," said Madeleine Diker, School Nutrition Specialist, of Cheshire Public Schools. "Creating and sampling the recipes was a wonderful learning experience for the entire team, and we are so proud of our students for their efforts, and for being nationally recognized."

The team included teachers Rebecca Frost and Katie Guerrette, and students Luke Escoto, Randi Cunningham, Shane Curtis, Maya Galloza and Jami Procanik.

The cookbooks and recipes are available on the Team Nutrition Web site at www.teamnutrition.usda.gov . The cookbooks will be published by the end of 2012.