Teen Chefs Compete to Revamp School Menus

On September 21st, 2025, Greenville County, South Carolina held its annual "Healthy Lunchtime Throwdown" competition as part of the Euphoria Greenville Festival. The event paired four student chefs with professional chefs to develop new, healthy lunch menu items for the district's schools.

During the competition, the student chefs provided the recipes and directives, while the professional chefs acted as their sous chefs. The winning dish, an "outstanding" Hawaiian chicken poke bowl created by student chef Alexander Kreider, will now be added to the Greenville County School menu rotation for the current school year.

According to Greenville elementary school principal Matt Critell, the district serves over 80,000 student meals per day, including breakfast, lunch, and after-school snacks. The Healthy Lunchtime Throwdown aims to ensure these meals are not only nutritious, but also flavorful and appealing to students.

Chef Dayna Lee, who volunteered her time to mentor one of the student chefs, expressed her passion for providing Greenville students with the "best experience" possible when it comes to school food. "I care about the food that our kids are consuming. I care about the way they think about food. I care about the way they think about their community," she said.

The competition's success highlights the district's commitment to promoting healthy eating habits and empowering students to take an active role in shaping their school menus.