Moreland Middle School Student is Top Chef

Move over Bobby Flay, hang up that apron Paula Dean because the future of culinary experts may just be at .

This year marked the second annual Sodexo's National Future Chefs Challenge with the theme "Healthy Breakfast Challenge" and the winner, Jillian Slattery is a student at Moreland Middle School.

The annual challenge is part of a national program by Sodexo to encourage students to eat healthy breakfasts at the nearly 250 schools in 27 states across the country it serves. The competition coincides with National Breakfast Week, March 5-9.

Future Chefs received 50 entries from students throughout the Moreland School District, including nine finalists from Easterbrook Discovery School and Moreland Middle School.

The competition, which ended March 14 showcased each student's culinary expertise by allowing each to prepare healthy food from recipes they created on their own.

Recipes were judged on:

• originality;
• taste;
• presentation;
• use of healthy ingredients.

Jillian's recipe made peanut butter oatmeal breakfast bars. The second place recipe was for a breakfast casserole and third place went to a captivating currant scones recipe. 

The Moreland Middle School winner's recipe will move on to the regional level for competition.