For several years Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach and Nancy Heinrich, MPH, founder of Growing Healthy Kids, Inc. have collaborated to educate and empower kids to develop healthy eating habits and positive lifestyle choices.
On Jan. 25, young students from Citrus Elementary and their parents spent a day learning how to select and prepare delicious, nutritious food with the long term objective of heading off the rise of childhood obesity and diabetes.
Their first stop was the Ocean Drive Farmer’s Market where the kids interviewed local farmers and selected fresh fruits and vegetables for their soon to be dining experience. Then off to Counter Culture Vero, located in the Boulevard Tennis Club, where Chef Anthony Damiano welcomed the kids and had food stations eagerly awaiting their attention.
Step by step, he showed the kids how to season and grill fresh vegetables and how to prepare a whopper of a salad from produce selected at the market. The kids intently listened and diced and sliced to their hearts content. A freshly made vinaigrette topped off their delicious and colorful creations.
The kids were then treated to an hour of playing tennis at the Boulevard.
Chef Anthony began his apprenticeship at Maxims in Paris and his professional career started at The Hotel Pierre. Most notably he is the former Executive Chef at New York’s Russian Tea Room. Throughout his career he has received numerous accolades, awards, honors and national press coverage.
Most important, he and his wife, Lisa, make the effort to reach out to our community and donate their time and resources. Anthony and Lisa currently own and operate Counter Culture Vero a Fresh and Natural Concept.
For more information on Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach and all their projects visit www.sunriserotaryverobeach.org or stop by any Wednesday meeting at 6:45 a.m. at Riverhouse near the Dog Park.