Mexican delights, a veggie-packed butter chicken and a vegan nourish bowl are among the delicious tuckshop treats vying for the top gong in the Queensland Association of School Tuckshops annual Recipe of the Year contest.
For the past three years, this competition has recognised and celebrated the amazing work being done in school tuckshops, shining a light on the hard-working stalwarts behind the roller doors who feed the tummies of thousands of hungry school children, day in, day out.
The competition, which is supported by Health and Wellbeing Queensland, is delivered by the Queensland Association of School Tuckshops (QAST) and attracts entrants from school tuckshops across Queensland.
This year in particular, QAST was faced with an outstanding number of nominations, and with rigour, dedication and some passionate discussion, the finalists have now been determined by the team, which included two final-year Nutrition and Dietetics students from the Queensland University of Technology.
“We were blown away by the calibre of this year’s entrants. From salads and stir-fries to burgers and burritos, it’s been amazing to see the creativity and innovation of tuckshop convenors from right across the state,” QAST Senior Projects Manager, Deanne Wooden said.
2023 finalists:
- Mexican Beef and Rice – Bay View State School (Thornlands)
- Rainbow Chicken Stir-Fry – Bay View State School (Thornlands)
- Super Easy Burrito – Currajong State School (Townsville)
- Butter Chicken – Southport State School (Gold Coast)
- Mexican Mince Mini Cob – Highfields State School (Darling Downs)
- Ferny Nourish Bowl – Ferny Grove State High School (Brisbane)
Health and Wellbeing Queensland Chief Executive, Dr Robyn Littlewood, said she was once again impressed with the quality of entries and the range of healthy options tuckshops are offering students across Queensland.
“We know tuckshops play an important role in providing nutritious, affordable and convenient food and drink options for Queensland families, and I congratulate all the finalists in this year’s award program,” Dr Littlewood said.
“It was heartening this year to see so many healthy and hearty meals and menu items for kids to enjoy while at school with their peers.”
The winner of the 2023 Recipe of the Year competition will be announced on Thursday, 14 September.
