PBL HS students (left to right) Lilybeth Anderson, Theresa Domingo, and HaleyJo O'Neill are the winners of the 4-H Regional Food Challenge representing Champaign, Ford, Iroquois, and Vermilion Counties. The competition was held at Bevier Hall on the University of Illinois campus on April 12, 2024.
After winning the PBL foods class challenge in March, this team was invited to compete at the Regional Food Challenge. Teams are given five minutes to plan a single-serving meal that includes the five food groups from MyPlate, using three mystery ingredients in addition to pantry items provided. Pantry items are foods that are commonly found in home pantries and refrigerators.
Teams are then given 40 minutes to prepare and plate their dish and plan their presentation for a panel of three judges. Judges evaluate teams based on the following criteria: nutrient knowledge and food, food safety, food appearance/quality, and presentation skills.
Winning teams from each region advance to the Illinois 4-H State Food Challenge in Decatur, IL, this June.
PBL won the 2023 Regional 4-H Food Challenge, with team members Keegynn Martinek, Grace Luening, and Madisyn Dodge.