1 minute read
Grade 12 Student Wins MANS Healthy Food Contest
DEPARTMENT NEWS
April 12 was a high day for Jersey Threefingers. The high school senior arrived at school ready to don her cap and gown for her high school graduation portrait—an exciting prospect in itself. Jersey's smile grew bigger when she was told that she won the Healthy Snacks contest and would be taking home a gift boxed tea trio of a teacup, strainer, and herbal tea selections.
While a food skills class is taught to Mamawi Atosketan Native High School students every year, in April 2021, their teacher Kim Harrington initiated a little friendly competition with a Healthy Snacks contest. "Students have a variety of skills when they enter the kitchen," observed Harrington, "This year, we had two classes in the kitchen at the same time. One class was an introductory group. The other was an intermediate class. The students learn about how to stay safe and keep things clean in the kitchen. They learn how to follow a recipe. They also learn about nutrition and how to make positive food choices."
Some students were initially skeptical entering the kitchen/classroom (there was no chip, candy bar, or sugary drink in sight). But grade 12 student Jersey Threefingers was inspired by the recipes she learned to follow in an appetizers class and was excited to participate in the Healthy Snacks contest. It was an incredibly close call among the many deserving, beautifully presented snack candidates—there was only a one-vote difference between each of the top four competitors—but a tasty batch of apple nachos Threefingers prepared emerged as the winner.
When she got the news of her win, Threefingers was so excited. Not only did she get to take home the prize tea set (generously donated by the ABC store in Lacombe), she did so with particular satisfaction. She convinced her skeptical classmates that healthy food could also taste great and look beautiful with apple nachos.
By Myken McDowell
