Welcome to the ‘Young Chef of the Year’ award, an innovative award making a difference to children and their families, with over 4,000 children across the UK and Ireland taking part in 2019.

This award is for 5^th and/or 6^th class pupils (ages 10-12) written by teachers for teachers, which covers Food and Nutrition within the classroom, as set out in the Social Personal and Health Education Curriculum (SPHE Curriculum 1999) and links with Language, Social and Environmental and Scientific Education, Maths and Art.

The award is a 6-week challenge with pupils designing and creating a ‘Meal for their Hero’. The meal includes a soup, main course, dessert and drink within a €10 budget. Children learn chef skills, seasonality, cooking methods, food hygiene and safety, where food comes from and the importance of food for health. It provides an opportunity to link with local Secondary schools, which also supports pupil transition.

The award is also supported by the College of Medicine and Integrated Health, NTOI (Nutritional Therapists of Ireland) and accredited by the Nutritional Therapy Education Commission.

Please take a look at our 2019 Impact Report. Pupils that took part in the Young Chef Award in 2019 in Limerick all completed pre and post questionnaires, which reflect successful outcomes. Notably there was a 28% increase in food preparation with children measuring ingredients independently. There was also a 24% increase in food preparation confidence with children making a salad and soup on their own and a significant increase in hygiene awareness. A plus for parents is a 20% increased willingness to try tomatoes, 16% willingness to try celery and 8% willingness to try cucumber.