Students To Face Off In Healthy Snack Competition

Students from Cherokee County School District middle and high schools will face off to see who can make the best healthy snacks.

The Cherokee County YMCA, in partnership with Northside Hospital-Cherokee, will hold the second annual Snack Wards competition in April. The competition will take place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Pruett YMCA at 151 Waleska Street in Canton. 

The event, which is designed to teach the importance of healthy eating, will feature the students competing in front of a live audience and three local judges. 

The kids will take everyday food items and turn them into a healthy, delicious after-school snack. Participants are given a tub of mystery ingredients and have 12 minutes to plan and assemble a snack. The competition's purpose is to get children engaged in the kitchen and come up with creative ways to prepare snacks — while learning about nutrition. 

The event aligns with the Y’s three areas of focus — youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

“Small changes are the first step to making a lifestyle change,” says Peggy Donaldson, Pruett Canton YMCA wellness and aquatic director. “Families are busy and often don’t have time to cook. Making meals a time for families to come together, engage in preparing the food together and then sit down to eat can have a huge impact.”

For more information, contact Toby Bramblett at (678) 880-3502 or tobyb@ymcaatlanta.org.