A lesson for youngsters

One of the leading hotels in Bahrain launched an initiative to engage children by allowing them to play with ingredients, as well as to teach them the value of healthy eating.

The Westin Bahrain City Centre will shortly launch its ‘Westin Eat Well Menu for Kids’, as part of an on-going commitment to the brand’s wellbeing movement.

Last week hotel representatives visited Lycée Français MLF de Bahreïn, otherwise known as the French School, where 50 children took part in an interactive contest to be able to participate in a Mini Super-Chefs competition at the hotel on Saturday.

At the pre-selection event children aged between seven and 13 were asked to identify various superfoods by tasting them and then answering a series of questions. The 25 top-scoring participants were invited to attend the weekend’s Westin Kids Cook-Off promotional event at the hotel.

From cooking demonstrations to chef tips and tricks, the kids enjoyed the activity designed to entertain, inspire and engage, whilst showing them that healthy eating can be fun.

The kids showed off their culinary skills by preparing their own healthy recipes, which were taste-tested by a three-strong judging panel made up of Chef Yousef Iqleim from Bahrain TV, Pierre Emmanuel Girod, Lycée Français’ deputy principal, and the hotel’s Executive Sous Chef Cyril Jeannot.

Pupils Candyce Roth, 10, and Emma-Louise Girod, 10, were awarded Bahrain Westin Super-Chef titles, each winning breakfast for a family-of-four at the hotel. A judge’s special mention went to Mya Murr, also aged 10. All children received certificates of participation and after the competition enjoyed an Eat Well lunch.

Hotel complex general manager Klaus Niefer said: “The competition is the latest initiative to come under the ‘Eat Well’ wellness brand pillar, aimed at inspiring wellbeing through healthy eating. The full Westin Eat Well Menu for Kids, with a vibrant array of healthy, tasty dishes will soon be available at Saveur restaurant at The Westin Bahrain City Centre.”

The company has teamed up with a group of doctors, dieticians, chefs and other experts, to create the menu, which features eight signature dishes created and tested by children.

The menu follows research which found that 33 per cent of adults bribe their children by giving them access to TV or smartphones and 30 per cent offer a sweet treat, in exchange for eating a healthy meal. Ashley Koff, an Eat Well Westin council member, said he hoped the initiative would help to combat the challenges parents face and inspire families to cook together and lead healthier lifestyles.