Children compete in MSU-E 'Top Chef' competition

IRONWOOD - Children put on chef hats and made healthy snacks to find out who is the "Top Chef" in a Michigan State University-Extension program at the Ironwood Carnegie Library Thursday afternoon.

Children picked from an array of fruit, vegetables, cheeses, yogurt and nuts to make healthy snacks either by themselves or with a partner.

MSU-Extension instructor Megan Martell said it's important for children to include healthier food options, like strawberries and cucumbers, in their diets.

"The earlier children establish healthy eating habits, the more likely they're going eat healthier foods for the rest of their lives," she said.

When time was up, the three judges - Alexee Hembree, from Burger King; Ironwood Mayor Annette Burchell and Chris Lahti, of Elk and Hound - evaluated the little chef's creations.

Holding clipboards, the judges evaluated each chef's snack based on taste, imagination, presentation and if the chef included all the food categories provided.

The judges said each chef's snack was good.

After careful consideration, the judges announced Kylee Lantta, 9, of Ironwood, was the top individual chef, and the duo of Cody Collins, 9, and Alyssa Zupan, 10, both of Ironwood, were the best team.

"It was a hard decision to make," Burchell said.

Martell encouraged the chefs to tell their parents they want to eat healthier diets.

"The whole family can eat healthier that way," she said.