Scottsdale Country Day School student, Phoebe Loop, 10, was among child chefs throughout the Valley stirring votes for their unique recipes to be named as the tastiest, healthiest for their peers.

Phoebe made carrot fries with garlic aioli infused with vitamins A and K plus beta carotene to be selected with the top five recipes in the 15th annual Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Walk On! Challenge for 9–12 year olds cooking up healthy side dishes.

Judged on nutrition, taste and originality, the recipes had to be an original hot or cold side dish with at least one fruit and/or vegetable cooked within 20 minutes, excluding prep time, according to a press release, describing the recipes selected based on inventiveness, taste, nutritional value and preparation ease.

This year’s finalists sampled their dishes for 100 guests at a Feb. 7 Phoenix Suns home game and after a public vote online, Josslyn Michael, 10, of Houston Elementary School in Gilbert, was announced the winner on Feb. 20 for her veggie burrito, winning a new bike and safety accessories.

In addition to Scottsdale’s youth chef and the Gilbert winner, other finalists were Cayce Parks, 11, of Kyrene Monte Vista Elementary School, in Phoenix, who created a broccoli dish; Kayla Littler, 10 of Crismon Elementary School in Mesa, who made a black bean, cauliflower and corn concoction for Mexican cupcakes; and Jacob Ohara, 10, of Hancock Elementary School in Chandler, who used sweet peppers, lean ground turkey and cream cheese for a turkey poppers dish.

“The Walk On! Kids Cooking Contest increases awareness about healthy foods and gives children an opportunity to be creative in eating healthy every day. When children learn at an early age the habit of incorporating vegetables into their daily diet, they are more likely to continue the habit into adulthood,” said BCBSAZ Health and Wellness Program Coordinator Myrna Collins.

“In addition, when kids explore at an early age what kind of vegetables they like and their preferences for how they like their vegetables prepared, they begin to form a foundation of healthy eating that can be carried into their lifetime.

Not to mention, if it’s kid approved, there’s a good chance that other kiddos will like the dish as well! Plus, cooking with family offers quality family time and more chances to talk about making healthy choices.”

She noted the difficulty of deciding on five finalists out of hundreds of submissions for the competition that is designed to educate and inspire fourth- and fifth-graders, teachers and families to focus on daily healthy choices while inculcating the 5-2-1-0 goal with easy ways to eat better, get enough exercise to be strong, healthy and full of energy; and fight childhood obesity.

The goal of the Walk On! Kids Cooking Challenge is something that the Gilbert winner and Scottsdale finalist have in common along with spending time with families.

“I have been cooking for a long time. I always help my mom in the kitchen. I don’t remember not being a cooker in the kitchen,” said Phoebe.

“I like to cook because even though we sometimes use recipes we usually add our own touch to each recipe with spices. I like to cook because everything always allows for my creativity and making it the way I think tastes right. It allows me to be creative!”

In addition to volleyball, gymnastics, swimming, doing crafts and traveling, she enjoys visiting her grandparents in Virginia every summer for a month, traveling to Pennsylvania, North Carolina, going to the beach and mountains.

“My Popa and Naya are both good cooks and they teach me a lot too. My Naya cans different fruits and vegetables and she teaches me that,” said Phoebe, adding that she will always love cooking.

Her mother, Selena Loop, was excited to learn of Phoebe’s advancement to the final five, she said.

“She has always been a helper in the kitchen and as she grows she has definitely grown in her desire to learn more and be more independent in her skills,” Selena Loop said.

“Upon receipt of the notification that she was a finalist to compete both she and I were ecstatic. She always dreamed of being on Chopped Jr. and I told her this was her Chopped Jr. opportunity! Words can’t express my pride having her compete in this competition.”

She said her mom made Phoebe an apron when she was about four years old, which she has used ever since along with a kitchen step stool, since she loved to cook and bake.

“I tease her and call her my sous chef,” Selena said. “

But, she has taken the reigns on so many dishes … and calls me her sous chef. I gladly oblige!”

Similarly, Josslyn said she has been cooking/baking for as long as she can remember.

“I was around five years old when I first started being interested in it,” said Josslyn, an aspiring chef and part time make-up artist.

“I really like trying new recipes, and also making my own dishes that taste really good.”

“I noticed she had a culinary gift pretty early on, about six or seven years old. She was always wanting to try new recipes and really loved being in the kitchen,” said Josslyn’s mother, Jenna Michael.

“I love watching her cook and doing what she loves so much, I hope that she continues to make delicious food and follow her dreams.”