INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kids and teens at Boys & Girls Clubs across the country rolled up their sleeves to show off their culinary skills in a recipe contest sponsored by the Anthem Foundation, the philanthropic arm Anthem, Inc., aimed and encouraging kids to embrace healthy eating. All of the recipes received were judged by television personality and chef Richard Blais, who selected five winning recipes.
Hundreds of recipes were received in the competition that encouraged the kids to follow three simple rules: keep it healthy, keep it simple and get creative. The young chefs not only demonstrated their creativity but also their awareness of using foods that are healthy and flavorful.
The five winners from across the country will help their local Clubs earn $10,000 in grants from the Anthem Foundation and, will have their recipe made into recipe cards and videos.
"I'm super impressed by all of the winners’ use of whole healthy foods and proper cooking techniques,” said Chef Richard Blais. "I'm even more impressed by their recipe writing and creativity.”
The winning recipes from the competition included ingredients from olives to avocados to chia seeds. Winners include:
- Amanda C. from Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County
- Savannah M. from Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada
- Valery E. from Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada
- Alexa L. from Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada
- John P. from Boys & Girls Club of Lac Courte Oreilles
“Studies have shown that when you involve kids in cooking they’re inclined to eat healthier,” said Lance Chrisman, executive director, Anthem Foundation. “This contest was a great opportunity to get kids thinking about what they like to eat and what makes a meal more nutritious. We’re excited to team with Boys & Girls Clubs of America and have the support of Chef Blais to help us encourage kids to be creative about meal preparations while instilling healthy eating habits at an early age.”
About The Anthem Foundation
The Anthem Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Anthem, Inc. and through charitable contributions and programs, the Foundation promotes the inherent commitment of Anthem, Inc. to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that Anthem, Inc. and its affiliated health plans serve. The Foundation focuses its funding on strategic initiatives that address and provide innovative solutions to health care challenges, as well as promoting the Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative that targets specific disease states and medical conditions. These disease states and medical conditions include: prenatal care in the first trimester, low birth weight babies, cardiac morbidity rates, long term activities that decrease obesity and increase physical activity, diabetes prevalence in adult populations, adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations and smoking cessation. The Foundation also coordinates the company’s year-round Associate Giving program which provides a 50 percent match of associates’ pledges, as well as its Volunteer Time Off and Dollars for Doers community service programs. To learn more about the Anthem Foundation, please visit http://www.anthem.foundation and its blog at http://anthemfoundation.tumblr.com