Students selected ingredients for their smoothies

During the Humana Challenge, a group of La Quinta Middle School students had their final exam broadcast on television in front of a crowd. For these little chefs, it was a piece of cake…Well, actually, just the opposite!

The 45 nutrition class students finished their 3 ½ month course on healthy eating and cooking with a smoothie contest conducted by the PGA Tour Wives Association. Nutrition teachers Marta Shand, Aurora Jimenez and Tiffany Miller watched with anticipation as ten teams selected healthy ingredients, created recipes and whipped up delicious concoctions for the judges.

Ingredients included organic berries, dragon fruit, avocado and spinach provided by the Certified Farmers Market, along with a few tasty additives like peanut butter, honey, and yogurt.

A bounty of fruits and vegetables

Teams were instructed to preview the ingredients, pick a team name, fill out their entry forms, work together, and most importantly, to be creative and have fun. One team member was selected to deliver the finished samples to the judges’ table, which was full of green, red, yellow and blue drinks, some of which were even garnished with fruits or sprigs.

The scrutinizing judge’s panel included pro golfer David Lingmerth; Michael Wilhite, Director of Supplemental Services K-12; and Desert Sun health reporter, Victoria Pelham, who awarded top honors to The Green Apples for their tasty smoothie full of color, consistency, creativity and above all, taste.

Aprons and hats were provided by Humana and the PGA Wives Association

The event was part of the PGA Tour Wives Association national tour. “We travel all over the country and do events like these,” said President Amy Wilson, wife of Pro Mark Wilson. “And it’s really the highlight of the week for us. We love interacting with the kids and learning their stories, and the focus on food and health is a fun lesson for all.”