Student chefs who created lunch for CPS going to national competition

CHICAGO (WLS) -- In February, 400,000 Chicago Public School students were treated to a very special lunch, created by their peers.

The recipes were created by culinary arts students Marshawn Gibson, Jalize Harmonponcedeleon, Neidy Mejia and Natalie Ruiz from Washington High School, who won first place in Healthy Schools Campaign's (HSC) Cooking up Change healthy cooking contest last October, beating 15 other teams from across the city.

Washington's winning meal features a Cajun chicken lettuce wrap, roasted corn relish and deconstructed peach and yogurt pizza. In addition to providing all-important appeal to students, the meal meets strict nutrition standards and uses only ingredients commonly available in a school kitchen.

Now, the team from Washington High School will take their first-place meal all the way to the national competition in Washington, D.C.

Chefs Marshawn Gibson and Natalie Ruiz, along with the Healthy Schools Campaign President & CEO Rochelle Davis visited ABC 7 to show-off the award winning meal.