Four chefs provide healthy snacks for elementary students.
Read more: Local, Health
ESCANABA -- Obesity is a growing issue in the U.S., especially among young people.
To promote healthy eating on what's known as Chef and Child Hunger Day, local chefs teamed up to put their culinary talents toward a good cause.
The chefs may not be preparing gourmet meals, but they are preparing healthy snacks for students at Franklin Elementary School in Escanaba. The snacks come at a cost. Students could swap the normal snack they may have with lunch in exchange for one of the healthy choices prepared by local chefs--like fruit kabobs or parfaits--and the donated snacks won't go to waste.
"The children here at Franklin Elementary School decided they'd like to feed the hungry, so what we'll be doing is taking their snacks over to St. Vincent's Soup Kitchen," said Pacino's Food and Spirits Chef, Michael Chapman.
From cookies to bags of chips, students were trading in a variety of snacks for a healthy alternative. Some students feel it's definitely the right choice to make.
"I think it's pretty neat and I think it's pretty fun," said fourth grader, Justin Popelka. "I think it's a good way to stay healthy and it's going to be a lot of fun."
The chefs represent area businesses such as Pacino’s Food and Spirits, the Island Resort and Casino, The Oaks, and Stonehouse Restaurant. All are members of the American Culinary Federation, Upper Michigan Chapter.
"This is our first Chef and Child Hunger Day event for our chapter," Chapman said. "There are many chapters around North America. American Culinary Federation is the largest professional chef organization in North America and many chapters will be celebrating this day."
