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(INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.) – Staraya McKinstry, from Chef JJ’s Back Yard, recently decided that
Back Yard’s philosophy about food should be used to educate younger generations. After sitting
down with her boss, JJ Boston, Amanda Byrd from the Indianapolis Early Learning Center and
Lynne McGuire from St Mary’s Child Center, they all came up with an activity for each school to
participate in where the focus was healthy eating.

The children’s parents were invited to come along, so that the educational experience was full
circle. Each child was given a task, such as grating the carrots and cucumber for the salad,
creating a healthy salad dressing with local olive oil and balsamic vinegar from Artisano’s oils,
ripping up lettuce leaves and adding chopped celery by the handful. When it was time to sit
down and eat, most ate more than one bite and thought it was fun to eat the long pieces of
grated vegetables. Then it was off to another dish, chicken and sweet potato fries. The children
were given a Ziploc bag with a plain chicken breast and their task was to season it with healthy
options. They mixed their concoctions and gave them to Chef JJ, where they then got to watch
their chicken being grilled. The chicken and sweet potato fries, dipped in a healthy, homemade
sauce, were a huge hit. Last but not least, dessert, which consisted of a bowl full of fresh berries
and fresh, local honey. Each child picked a few fresh leaves off of a mint plant then mixed it into
the “fruit salsa.” The salsa was scooped into ice cream cones and topped with a dollop of fresh
whipping cream to create a delicious, healthy treat.

“Every child tried everything and it was great to see. There were some “Ewwws’ in the group
but they all had to try it at least once, and when they did, they liked it! I think that having the
kids help with the food preparation made them more receptive to trying it,” said Staraya. She
adds, “Even the parents walked away with new ideas. It was great to see everyone so excited.”

Chef JJ’s Back Yard hopes to pair up with Lynne and Amanda again, as well as other school
leaders from around Indiana on a more regular basis. The idea behind this activity is to educate
the kids and their parents on how cooking healthy is not difficult or expensive, and that it can
taste good too. These types of healthy eating measures can dramatically affect each child’s health
as they grow up.

About Chef JJ’s Back Yard
At Chef JJ’s Back Yard we make things personal. From custom designing outdoor kitchens, to
interacting with our clients during grilling classes and private events, we’re all about making you
feel at home. We are very much a part of the local food movement, so we feature local
products in our store and in our cooking. Take home a piece of Chef JJ’s Back Yard by
purchasing a Big Green Egg, or if you already own one, have us design an outdoor kitchen like
ours for you to enjoy it on. Spend some time in our Back Yard, we guarantee you will want to
come back!
For Immediate Release:
Media Contact:
Staraya McKinstry
317.602.3828
Staraya@chefjjs.com

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