News Summary
The Greenville County School District’s culinary competition concludes with a winning Hawaiian chicken poke bowl to be added to school menus.
Greenville, South Carolina – The Greenville County School District has announced that the winning dish from its annual culinary competition, the “Healthy Lunchtime Throwdown,” will be added to the school lunch menu. The competition took place on Sunday, September 21, during the Euphoria Greenville Festival and showcased the culinary talents of four students from the district.
Student chef Alexander Kreider emerged as the winner with his Hawaiian chicken poke bowl, which features grilled chicken, brown rice, fresh vegetables, pineapple, and a hint of Sriracha mayo. The dish was noted for being a balanced, flavorful, and healthy option suitable for school lunches. As a result of his victory, the Hawaiian chicken poke bowl will be included in the Greenville County School menu rotation starting in October 2025.
All participants in the competition were paired with a professional chef who assisted them during the event as a sous chef. The students were in charge of presenting their recipes and directing the chefs in the kitchen. Along with Alexander Kreider, contestants Elijah Raines, Lucy Thomason, and Jillian Nance were recognized for their creative dishes, contributing to a spirited and competitive atmosphere.
Chef Dayna Lee, one of the volunteer chefs at the event, highlighted her commitment to enhancing food experiences for students in the Greenville area. The competitive event not only provides a platform for student culinary skills but also encourages greater community involvement in school lunch programs.
Each day, the Greenville County School District serves over 80,000 meals, which include breakfast, lunch, and snacks. Matt Critell, principal of a local elementary school, underscored the importance of providing nutritious meals to students and recognized the significant impact that events like the Healthy Lunchtime Throwdown can have on culinary education within the community.
In addition to introducing new dishes, the Greenville County Schools will be offering free meals to children and teens in the summer of 2025 through the Seamless Summer Food Service Program. This program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and aims to provide free meals to children aged 18 years or younger, ensuring that all students have access to healthy food options even during school breaks. Furthermore, breakfast in schools throughout the district is offered free of charge.
The introduction of the Hawaiian chicken poke bowl into the school menu marks a commitment to healthier meal options for students and reflects the district’s dedication to culinary education and student wellness. As students look forward to enjoying this winning dish, the culinary competition will continue to inspire creativity and promote an understanding of nutritious eating habits.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
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Additional Resources
- People: South Carolina Student Chefs Compete
- Greenville Journal: Free Summer Meals
- Fox Carolina: Free Lunch Offer
- WYFF4: Student Chefs Compete
- SC Daily Gazette: Free Meals in Schools
- Wikipedia: School Lunch
- Google Search: Healthy Lunch Options for Students
- Google Scholar: Nutritional Education in Schools
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Nutrition
- Google News: School Lunch News
Author: STAFF HERE GREENVILLE
The HERE Greenville Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Greenville community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Greenville Our team includes lifelong Greenville residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent sales in the Heritage Historic District 17 , Greenville’s textile and railroad heritage 2 , and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Greenville Technical College programs) 27 . Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
