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Media Release
July 2010

Kids Cook At LynnMall Proves A Hit

Family Cook-Off Challenge winners Team Madison (L-R: Bailey Hughes, Mum Mrs Hughes and Madison Hughes) and judges Trudi Nelson, Toni Causley and Deputy Mayor of Waitakere City Penny Hulse



More than 370 kids from across Auckland descended on LynnMall Shopping Centre over the July school holidays, donning their chef hats and aprons in aid of a fabulous cause.

The Kids Cook at LynnMall campaign aimed to teach young ‘masterchefs’ basic cooking skills and about healthy eating, while supporting the Foundation for Youth Development (FYD). Over the two week period, the campaign raised more than $4,300 for the Foundation.

Kids aged five years and over from across Auckland were invited to visit LynnMall Shopping Centre and have a go at creating a range of delicious 5+ A Day recipes in their very own Fisher & Paykel mobile kitchen. Entry to each cooking event cost $5, with all proceeds going to FYD.

Auckland Blues player Dave Thomas keeps a watchful eye over Kathy Jiang and Travis Johanson cutting veggies for their pizza kebabs

An organisation governing several youth development programmes, FYD has proven to make a positive difference in the lives of young people. It helps thousands of Kiwis aged 5 to 18 through its Kiwi Can, Stars and Project K programmes, which help children and teenagers develop confidence and skills to set them up for life.

LynnMall Shopping Centre Manager Linh Luong says, “We are thrilled with the success of the campaign. By teaching kids useful cooking skills and about the importance of healthy eating, we are preparing them to make informed decisions about health and nutrition that they will carry throughout their lives. We are also very glad to have the added bonus of contributing to the great work of FYD.”

Each participant that took part in a Kids Cook at LynnMall class received a bag filled with a range of goodies from Healtheries and Hubbards, as well as an apron and chef’s hat.

Saxon siblings Olivia, Hayley and Hayden get stuck into making pizza dough

One child from each age group (five to seven years, eight to 10 years, and 11 years and over) won $500 worth of LynnMall gift vouchers, which was drawn randomly from the pool of entries. The lucky winners included six-year-old Rosisin Leckie, 10-year-old Gemma Yvonne Loveday and 11-year-old Tahquinn Hansen.

Families were also invited to get involved in the campaign by sharing their favourite recipe online at www.kidscookatlynnmall.co.nz, with each entry going into the draw to win $100 worth of LynnMall gift vouchers.

The two family recipes with the most votes were challenged to compete in a cook-off final at LynnMall Shopping Centre on Sunday 18 July. The cook-off included the two families cooking their favourite recipes for a panel of judges. A grand prize of $1,000 worth of LynnMall gift vouchers was awarded to the Team Madison, who impressed the judges with their Pesto Stuffed Chicken Wrapped in Bacon.

In addition to the family cook-off, Lynnmall Shopping Centre auctioned off Fisher & Paykel kitchen appliances, with the proceeds going to FYD.

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