URBANA, Ill.—4-H youth and their families were challenged to beat the heat this summer by creating their own healthy snacks. They could adapt an existing recipe or invent something completely new, using their creativity to prepare a cool and healthy summer treat that requires little or no baking.
Participants had a month to perfect their recipes and submit their entries in this virtual contest. Two winners in each division received fun summer-themed prizes. Winners were selected based on creativity, visual appeal, and alignment with the challenge rules.
Family Division:
- 1st Place: The Chappell family's Cool Cucumber Salsa (Kankakee County)
- 2nd Place: The Mangane family's Lemon Coconut Sorbet (DuPage County)
Individual Division, ages 8-11:
- 1st Place: Rosie Mings' Piggy Snacks (Saline County)
- 2nd Place: Hunter Cronje's Very Berry Cheesecake Popsicles (White County)
Individual Division, ages 12-18:
- 1st Place: Elijah Kelly's Strawberry Cheesecake Blossoms (Champaign County)
- 2nd Place: Neda Bazys' Protein Brownie Batter with Banana Bark (Cook County)
“This challenge encouraged young people and families to explore nutritious ingredients, practice food preparation skills, and discover that making healthy snacks can be both creative and fun," said Natalie Bradley, 4-H youth development healthy living specialist for Illinois Extension. "We were inspired by the variety of recipes submitted and the enthusiasm participants showed for building healthy habits together.”
Illinois 4-H provides many learning opportunities and resources that help youth make healthy food choices and develop their food purchasing and preparation skills. Learn more about all 4-H has to offer at 4H.extension.illinois.edu.
About Illinois 4-H:
Illinois 4-H is the flagship youth development program of University of Illinois Extension, administered through the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. Through hands-on learning and life-changing experiences, Illinois 4-H prepares youth to be Beyond Ready — ready for college, career, military service, entrepreneurship, and more. Young people build confidence, leadership, and resilience as they explore interests from agriculture to computer science. Independent research and national surveys confirm the powerful outcomes of 4-H: participants are 40% more likely to pursue a college degree, twice as likely to obtain technical training, and two times more likely to serve in the military. With a legacy of cultivating leaders, Illinois 4-H continues to grow the next generation who are equipped to thrive in life and work today and beyond.
For Further Information Contact: Natalie Bradley, 4-H Youth Development Healthy Living Specialist, nbradley@illinois.edu
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 500 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.