4-H Club holds Food Challenge

Christian Estill

Special to Village News

I am an 11th-grader at Fallbrook High School. Last month, I organized and held the first 4-H Club Food Challenge competition at the San Diego County Fairgrounds.

The Food Challenge allowed youth ages 9-18 to take part in a cooking competition. They were provided a pantry of ingredients and had one hour to make a main dish that showcased four main ingredients.

At the end of the hour, they had to present the dish to the judges, as well as give a presentation on what ingredients they used, how much the cost per dish was, and how it relates to My Plate.

My Plate, http://www.choosemyplate.gov, is a government website that offers guidance in creating balanced meals and incorporating healthy habits into your lifestyle. Overall, three teams attended the competition, including a team from Fallbrook. The event was well-received, and the public showed interest in continuing it next year.

This event taught budgeting, quick thinking and how to accept criticism. Sponsors supplied the ingredients, including Grocery Outlet, Major Market, Albertsons, Fallbrook 4-H Club families and Fallbrook Ag Boosters.

The fairgrounds donated the use of their kitchen free of cost. Because of these donations, the children were able to compete for free, and all extra food was donated to the Fallbrook Food Pantry.