Over 550 primary school pupils have completed the ‘Young Chef of the Year’ award in Welwyn Hatfield, since the award was launched in 2017. Pupils had to plan and create a three-course ‘Meal for their Hero’. 

Schoolchildren, aged between seven and 11, will compete at the ‘Young Chef of the Year’ final hosted by Ridgeway Academy. After cooking their menus the finalists will celebrate the day with their family and friends. 

The Mayor councillor Roger Trigg and Mayoress Mrs Carole Trigg will attend the awards ceremony where the winner of the Welwyn Hatfield Young Chef 2020 will be announced. 

The award is a project developed by the Food Teacher team in Hertfordshire who aim to improve long-term health by educating children about food and nutrition. 

The award was first launched in Lancashire through the Healthier Fleetwood initiative and is supported by GP Dr Mark Spencer. He said: “Cooking is great fun and brings families and friends together. Getting children interested in cooking and improving their nutritional knowledge is a great initiative.”

Pupils learnt about making healthy food choices, chef skills, seasonality, cooking methods and food hygiene. 

The team at The Food Teacher, added: “Teaching children the importance of food for their health is essential and this challenge provides that opportunity within a practical, purposeful and engaging context.”