Chef Tim gives nutrition staff tips on cooking

Polk School District’s Department of School Nutrition was recently selected by The Whole Kids Foundation for an onsite training session presented by Chef Timothy Cipriano of Torrington, Connecticut.

Chef Tim, as he prefers to be called, has over 16 years of culinary experience and was a contestant on the Food Network cooking competition show “Chopped”.

He was also invited and attended a gathering of professionals at the White House to work with the First Lady’s Office staff, White House Assistant Chef Sam Kass, USDA and “Share our Strengths” representatives to develop ideas on promoting healthy eating and combating childhood obesity within the schools across America.

His trip to Polk County was sponsored by the Whole Foods foundation known as Whole Kids, which allows him to travel throughout the county supporting programs to end childhood hunger, and help to find ways to increase nutritious food access for children.

School nutrition staff said it was honor to meet him during a training session at Rockmart High School.

Middle and high school nutrition employees were given tips on knife skills, salad bar etiquette, kid friendly salad recipes and quick and easy healthy house made salad dressings.

Chef Tim shared the following 4-3-2-1 vinaigrette recipe:

4-oz unsweetened applesauce 3-oz balsamic vinegar 2-oz Dijon mustard 1-oz sweetener (I used organic agave)

Add to mason jar and shake well.

Westside Elementary was the training site for all elementary school nutrition employees.

This year, most of the implemented salad bars quickly became popular for both students and teachers alike allowing choices from a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

Plans are to have a salad bar on a daily basis in all Polk Schools during the 2016-2017 term.