After school let out for the summer at Northwest ISD in Texas, nearly three dozen students in grades 6-8 traded in their books and pencils for aprons and a kitchen as they participated in the Junior Chef Academy offered by Aramark Student Nutrition. This hands-on camp taught students how to get involved in the kitchen by creating engaging dishes—all while having a blast with their classmates.
“At Aramark Student Nutrition, we love inspiring the next generation to eat well and cook with confidence. While most summer camps are centered around sports or academics, the Junior Chef Academy is a unique opportunity for students to sharpen their budding culinary skills,” said Chef Anthony Moore, Chef Manager at Northwest ISD. “The Junior Chef Academy gives them an opportunity to build an interest in culinary arts while also teaching about safety and offering an insight into kitchen operations.”
From mastering kitchen basics to exploring fresh ingredients, the Junior Chefs learned skills from the culinarians in their school district that sparked creativity and created memories that will last a lifetime.
Two four-day camps were offered to 16 students in each camp in June.
Students had the opportunity to prepare an entrée and a snack each day including:
Monday:
- Homemade Hummus
- Hummus Wraps
- Pizzadillos
- Sunbutter and Fruit Pinwheels
Tuesday:
- Chicken Enchiladas
- Homemade Salsa
- Tomato and Avocado Salad
Wednesday:
- Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Icing
- Ham and Cheese Roll-ups
Thursday:
- Fresh Marinara Sauce
- Pizza Dough
- Loaded Pizza
- Caesar Salad
- Parmesan Spinach Balls
At the end of the Junior Chef Academy, students were able to take home a custom cookbook which contained all the featured recipes they had a chance to create—with many students opting to sign each other’s cookbooks much like a yearbook.
