Kids get edgy with fruits & veggies

Cassidy Johnson loves pancakes as an after-school snack. The Spanish Fork third-grader microwaves frozen whole-wheat pancakes, smothers them with strawberries, peaches and maple syrup, and adds a squirt of whipped topping.

Her simple recipe, called Snow Blizzard Pancakes, won the breakfast category of the annual "Kid's 5 A Day" recipe contest sponsored by the Utah Department of Health's heart disease and stroke prevention program. She got a $25 gift certificate for her creation.

Johnson's recipe, and the nearly 80 other recipes submitted by Utah grade-schoolers, can be found on the Web site, hearthighway.org. It's one more way to promote eating at least five fruits and vegetables a day.

It happens that three of the six other contest winners are also students at Spanish Oaks Elementary. Their teacher is Cassidy's mom, Courtney Johnson, and every year Courtney uses the annual contest as a writing assignment.

"Nutrition is an important thing; it helps kids think better," Courtney said. "We have so many kids in school that don't eat right. If they create it, they own it. And if they own it, they will eat it."

She uses the recipe-writing assignment as a way to teach expository writing, where the text might be boring. "We talk about things like writing leads and titles and voice, which will compel your readers to want to keep reading. I think so many of my students win because their recipes show their personality."

The contest asks for original, easy-to-prepare recipes with fruits and vegetables as main ingredients, said Jessie Shupe, media coordinator for the heart disease and stroke prevention program. The recipes should be generally healthy and low in fat and sugar. The kids are required to include a drawing or photo of the recipe with their entry. Recipes are judged on creativity, taste, appeal, health benefit and ease of preparation.

The contest is open to any Utah elementary school student and advertised in a newsletter sent to grade school teachers every fall. "We usually get a few teachers who will push it with their students," said Shupe.

The contest is an annual event since 2002, said Rachel Cox, the health department's dietitian who oversees it. "It's a great way for kids to learn how to cook and to get in the habit of eating more fruits and vegetables."