The Chef's Academy Partners With Triangle-Area Schools For Wellness Initiative

RALEIGH, NC, November 11, 2012 (Press-News.org) The Chef's Academy (http://www.thechefsacademy.com), the Culinary Division of Harrison College, a 110-year-old, nationally accredited institution that offers 40 degree programs in five schools of study, has announced its partnership with Duke Raleigh Hospital and Brier Creek Elementary students, parents and staff to launch a wellness initiative that emphasizes healthy lifestyle choices for all children. The kickoff event, a health circuit integrated with all aspects of wellness, including diet and exercise, will be held Wednesday, Nov. 14 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Brier Creek Elementary, located at 9901 Brier Creek Parkway.

The event is part of the school's celebration of "Brier Creek Health and Wellness Week." The school's wellness committee, founded to bridge the gap between classroom health education and at-home implementation, is working alongside various community partners to instruct children about whole body health and wellness.

During the kickoff event, activities will be available to help teach students how to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. Parents, teachers and volunteers will lead yoga classes with the goal of showing students how to handle stress in a constructive manner. Additionally, Duke Raleigh Hospital will conduct blood pressure tests to give students a first-hand look at the importance of establishing healthy habits at a young age. The event will include a cooking demonstration in which instructors from The Chef's Academy will teach attendees how to cook nutritious, family-friendly and satisfying dishes. Chef Paul Sottile, a chef instructor from The Chef's Academy, will be serving healthy sweet potatoes, which will include a toppings bar with a variety of fresh and tasty food options. The event is designed to let students know that being healthy can be fun.

Following the kickoff event, The Chef's Academy will continue its partnership with Brier Creek Elementary through an on-campus garden that the institute's chefs will set up with the assistance of teachers and students. The garden will then be integrated into the science curriculum as students will monitor the growth of the garden and learn how to use the produce to create healthy meal alternatives. Through this wellness initiative, both chefs and teachers hope to change children's perceptions about healthy eating and emphasize the many benefits of keeping a healthy lifestyle.

QUOTES:
"There are many important reasons to teach children healthy habits at a young age," said Jayson Boyers, national division president of The Chef's Academy. "If we start educating our children about the benefits of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, it could lead to a lifetime of smart diet and nutrition choices. We find that it is incredibly important to teach children that living a healthy lifestyle does not need to be a challenge - it can be enjoyable. We hope the students will encourage their families to eat healthy by starting gardens at home and as a result, live improved, happier and healthier lives."

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ABOUT THE CHEF'S ACADEMY:
The Chef's Academy is the Culinary Division of Harrison College, a 110-year-old, nationally accredited institution that offers 40 degree programs in five schools of study. Approximately 4,500 students altogether are enrolled at Harrison College's 12 campuses, its online division and The Chef's Academy. Headquartered in Indianapolis, The Chef's Academy opened a second academy on a 4.37-acre campus in North Carolina's Triangle in August 2011. At The Chef's Academy, students become prepared and marketable graduates entering the fields of culinary arts, pastry arts, and hospitality and restaurant management through classroom and experiential instruction that sets up expectations for the real-life industry. The college's culinary division provides an environment that fosters students' passion for culinary arts and hospitality and a curriculum developed by the most qualified instructors and leaders in the market. The Chef's Academy is endorsed and accredited by the American Culinary Federation (ACF). For more information about The Chef's Academy, visit http://www.thechefsacademy.com.

Anjelica Cummings
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