Visiting Vegas Verdes ES

The new year is in full swing and so are our amazing chef volunteers, who were back in the cafeteria feeding our friends at Vegas Verdes ES. Thank you to Chef Jamie Poltrock and the team at South Point Hotel & Casino for cooking up yum for these kiddos and the staff who work hard to educate them. On the menu was Sausage, Broccoli Cauliflower Egg Frittata, an Apple, and French Toast Sticks for a sweet treat. 

You would think that the french toast sticks were the most popular item on the plate, but surprisingly there was a big toss up between the sausage and the egg frittata as the favorite of the day. We also asked the kids if they could identify the vegetables in the frittata, and while broccoli was easily identifiable, they had a harder time with the cauliflower. This was by design as according to Chef Jamie “we’re ‘sneaking’” the cauliflower, and it worked! 

One girl who had already eaten nearly half the frittata proclaimed “I hate cauliflower!” But you could see the confusion on her face as she realized she just ate cauliflower and actually loved it. This sparked the conversation we have time and time again with our kids – vegetables can be prepared in a variety of ways, and just because you don’t like it one way, doesn’t mean you won’t like it prepared another way. 

These breakfast events are not only feeding kids, but helping to expose them to healthy foods they might not otherwise try. Many parents have a hard time getting their kids to try new fruits and vegetables at home, but when it’s part of an exciting event, and their friends are doing it too, they are more likely to try new foods. Once they discover they actually like it, they tend to ask for the foods at home, building healthier eating habits that will carry into adulthood. 

We’re more than half-way through the school year, and our work is not done yet. We have plenty more breakfast events coming up, including four that need a culinary team to step up to the plate and sponsor. It takes a village to feed a child. From donors like Guy Fieri Foundation, who provided much-needed funds to fuel these breakfasts, to the chefs and volunteers who cook and serve food to our students – everyone plays a vital role in feeding a child. Be part of our village and email us at donations@chefsforkids.org to find out how your team can help!