David Hummert, a 9-year-old from Sonoran Sky Elementary School in Scottsdale, won Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona’s 2019 Walk On! Kids Cooking Challenge with his “Broccolini Pasta” dish.
“I entered the Walk On! Kids Cooking Challenge because I have a really good pasta, and I wanted to win a new bike,” says Hummert, who did win a bike and safety gear. “My Broccolini Pasta is filled with lots of good veggies, and it still tastes good! I can’t wait for everyone to try it.”
Every January, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona invites Arizona kids ages 9-12 to submit original healthy side-dish recipes. Recipes must include at least one fruit or vegetable, and be easy enough to prepare in 20 minutes or less.
“This year’s recipe submissions were so diverse and creative — from deviled eggs stuffed with guacamole to carrots sautéed with dill and thyme — we just couldn’t get over them,” said Myrna Collins, health promotion executive at BCBSAZ. “What I really like about David’s Broccolini Pasta is that when it is made with whole-grain pasta, this is a yummy and nutrition-dense dish comprised of low-glycemic veggies and whole grain.”
The 14th annual Walk On! Kids Cooking Challenge is part of a free month-long health and fitness challenge for schools held each February. Kids who participate pledge to reach a daily goal of:
- Eating five fruits and veggies
- Getting an hour of physical activity
- No more than two hours of screen time
- Drinking water instead of sugary drinks
BCBSAZ designed the program to help fourth- and fifth-grade students adopt healthy habits to combat rising childhood obesity rates. Learn more and download all the finalists’ recipes at walkonaz.com
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