Whole Bakers presents Best Cookie Award at Healthy Schools Campaign event

Whole Bakers, a certified gluten-free as well as kosher-certified specialty baked goods company, was chosen to announce the winner of the Best Cookie Award during the Healthy Schools Campaign's annual Cooking up Change event, held on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008. During the event, Chicago area public high school students studying culinary arts received the opportunity to showcase their original healthy student-designed menus in front of some of Chicago's elite chefs.

Whole Bakers Founder Patty Stewart was pleased to be a part of the program, which awards contest winners by preparing their unique meals at Chicagoland schools. "Cooking up Change is such a great way to get kids involved in culinary creativity," said Stewart. "I'm happy to be a part of teaching kids the importance and benefit of healthy cooking."

Stewart awarded the Best Cookie Award to Richards High School in Oak Lawn, Illinois for their delicious Carrot Cake Cookie. Richards High School also won first place in the School Meal contest with their delicious trio of entrées which included Carrotquedilla, Chorizo Relleno and Refrescante.

Whole Bakers plans to be involved with Cooking up Change again next year as Stewart may be educating the culinary teachers and students about the gluten-free lifestyle. Stewart also plans to provide participants with gluten-free flours so that they may create entrées for those with wheat allergies.

Pictured: Patty Stewart (center) stands with Rochelle Davis (right), head of the Healthy Schools Campaign, while presenting the award for Best Cookie.