Celebrity chef launches sixth form survivor competition

The competition, organised by the Food Standards Agency, targets sixth formers before they leave school to encourage them not only to eat healthily but also to think of new and fun ways to cook. To enter students simply log on to www.food.gov.uk/survivor and upload their recipes for a chance to win a place in the grand final hosted by James Martin at the Ulster Museum on March 23, 2010.

The competition is part of a campaign to promote the ‘Survival Guide to Food’ a handy guide for sixth form students in Northern Ireland which communicates the skills needed to eat well and stay healthy when preparing to leave home for the first time.

Elaine Donaghy, Communications Manager, Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland comments: “We have had a fantastic response from schools in the Londonderry area who are currently using the ‘Survival Guide to Food’ in classrooms so we expect a lot of interest from students in the ‘Sixth Form Survivor Competition’. The competition is a great way to encourage students to practice their favourite recipes in the classroom or at home, before entering them online. The grand final with James Martin promises to be a fantastic event bringing together the best ‘Sixth Form Survivors’ from across Northern Ireland to compete to win great prizes and home economics equipment for their school and hopefully there will be a Londonderry student in the running for the ‘Ultimate Sixth Form Survivor’ title.”

Entrants with a recipe in the top 100 will receive a voucher and a ‘Sixth Form Survivor’ certificate. Five regional winners will be selected from the 100 recipes to win vouchers, a school award and go on to represent their region in a grand final where, following some fun, cooking related challenges, James Martin will announce the ‘Ultimate Sixth Form Survivor’ in Northern Ireland. The winner will receive home economics equipment for their school, gift vouchers and a bespoke award for their school.

Host of the Sixth Form Survivor Cook Off Final, James Martin, comments: “This is a fantastic way of getting teenagers who are leaving home to learn about what type of food they should be eating and how to cook and develop their own recipes. Judging by the interest in the ‘Survival Guide To Food’ I have no doubt there are lot of budding young chefs in Northern Ireland who will be entering their recipes for a chance to win some fantastic prizes and a place in the grand final.”

For more information on the ‘Sixth Form Survivor Competition’ or to enter the recipe challenge log on to www.food.gov.uk/survivor. The deadline for entries is March 5, 2010.