Henderson recipe contest bolsters community health

With family roots from Mississippi, former Henderson resident Jamal Norris loves Southern cooking.

So when the Las Vegas native heard about the city of Henderson’s Healthy Recipe Contest, he did what made the most sense.

“I took one of my mother’s soup recipes and made it healthy,” Norris said. “I used ground turkey instead of beef, wild rice instead of white rice and made sure everything was low sodium.”

Dubbed Mississippi Love Soup, Norris’s healthy twist on a family recipe earned him first place in the entree category at the city’s final judging event March 26 at the Art Institute of Las Vegas, 2350 Corporate Circle.

Other winners included Lynn Meusy for her seven-layer salad appetizer and Sarah Beatty for her coconut oat bites dessert.

“It’s been a great effort from the city and its partners,” said Mayor Andy Hafen, who participated as a judge at the event. “We will actually have a Henderson Healthy Recipe Cookbook as a result of everyone’s collaboration with the contest.”

About 65 qualified recipes were entered into the Healthy Recipe Contest and initially screened by chefs and representatives from the UNLV Nutrition Department and the Southern Nevada Health District.

Each had to include one of the following requirements: two fruits and/or vegetables, a lean protein, a whole grain or a low-fat or fat-free dairy product or milk substitute.

Once the top 15 were identified, students from the International Culinary Institute at the Art Institute re-created the dishes for a panel of judges, which included the mayor, registered dietitian nutritionist Aurora Buffington and three chefs from the school.

The recipes were critiqued on nutrition, originality, taste and presentation.

“The innovation of the health and wellness program that the city is putting together is phenomenal,” said the school’s president, Mark Garland, at the event. “Food is that one thing in life that really pulls friends, family and the community together, so we appreciate everyone’s support.”

Finalist and UNLV student Rachel Bauman entered her Fiesta Quinoa Salad recipe as a school assignment. Aspiring to become a dietitian, she used the contest to gain hands-on experience.

“It’s all about educating and informing people stuck in a rut on healthy eating,” she said. “If you can make it fun and exciting for people, they’ll become more interested.”

The city of Henderson plans to keep its residents healthy, hearty and happy year-round through its Healthy Henderson initiative.

“The initiative is to provide the community with wellness, nutrition and fitness education,” said city recreation manager Sheila Dugan. “The recipe contest was designed to promote the consumption of healthy foods and help us get educated about nutrition and healthy cooking.”

The 65 qualified recipes are set to be printed in Henderson’s first healthy cookbook in May. The books are scheduled to be sold for $10 at city recreation centers.

For more information, visit tinyurl.com/healthyhendo.

To reach Henderson View reporter Caitlyn Belcher, email cbelcher@viewnews.com or call 702-383-0403. Find her on Twitter: @caitlynbelcher.