Nine-year-old Indian American little chef Shreya Patel is among the young winners of Michelle Obama’s “healthy lunchtime challenge” and was among the 55 young cooks who had dinner at The White House over the July 4th weekend (Friday, 10th) with the first lady Michelle Obama, and the president Barack Obama.
This was the fourth annual Kids’ State Dinner hosted by first lady Michelle Obama, as part of Michelle Obama’s move to combat childhood obesity.
Shreya’s garam masala quinoa burger with raita was chosen as the winning recipe entered from Illinois, winning her a spot at the awards. She also wrote in an essay accompanying her entry that she’s been cooking since she was 3 and said she loves to “mix, measure, chop and even clean up afterwards.”
She was invited for the lunch with Michelle Obama at a flower-bedecked table in the East Room on July 10.
“I have watched my mom and grandma make all sort of delicious food in the kitchen with an Indian twist since I was born,” Shreya was quoted as saying on www.letsmove.gov.
“I have been helping them cook since I was three. I love to mix, measure, chop, and even clean up afterwards,” she posted.
“My grandma and I came up with this recipe together because we both love sandwiches. We make this recipe often to take to school for lunch or even on picnics with friends,” said Shreya who aims to become a pharmacist like her father.
Her Quinoa Burger dish was enhanced with garam masala, cumin, ginger and grated serrano chillies.
With nearly one thousand entries submitted to this year’s Healthy Lunchtime Challenge, the fifty-five winning recipes were selected based on their healthfulness, taste, originality, affordability, and following USDA’s MyPlate recommendations.
Here are some pictures from the Award Night
Courtesy : The First Lady's account on Medium
