“Healthy eating”. To most people, this term is as alluring as it is daunting. Nearly everyone would love to incorporate healthier food choices into their diet, but when you go to search for healthy recipes, you find that either a) it takes forever to make, b) it costs an arm and a leg, or c) it’s loaded with so much kale it just might make your skin turn green.
To my family, this has been a big issue throughout the years. My mom has always tried to eat healthy, and when my dad was diagnosed with diabetes, everything became twice as complicated. When I saw this, I decided to take matters into my own hands. Along with a group of friends, I founded Diabetes Haven, a site focused on curating free and healthy recipes for diabetics.
However, now we’re shifting gears to share our mission with even more people. Why? Because times are tough, and eating healthy has never been more difficult. Food prices are up, and general costs are up. Put simply, cost and time are a huge challenge for average families. As I saw these issues grow in my community, I felt I had to do something to help.
That’s the foundation of “The York Region Recipe Challenge,” which encourages people to submit healthy, cheap, quick, and, most importantly, delicious recipes to help community members eat healthier.
How does the challenge work?
The challenge is to create quick, cheap, healthy, and delicious recipes. It consists of two parts: a virtual submission on DiabetesHaven.net/Contest and an in-person taste test. Submissions are judged based on specific criteria.
Cost: Recipes that cost 15 dollars or less per serving will receive 10 points. Otherwise, every dollar over this limit will result in a one-point deduction.
Quickness of Preparation: Recipes made in under 15 minutes will receive 10 points. Otherwise, every minute over this limit will result in a half-point deduction.
Healthiness: Recipes are judged by the amount of whole foods in them and the nutrient density of each ingredient. The resulting points range from 1 to 100.
Dietary Restrictions: Each dietary restriction listed on DiabetesHaven.net/Contest met by the recipe is worth 5 points.
Lastly, recipes should be suitable for lunch and dinner and cannot be desserts.
Afterwards, the top 5 scoring recipes will advance to the taste testing. All 5 recipes will be included in “The York Region Recipe Guide,” a pamphlet shared with our community partners. Our judges will taste and rank each recipe, with the top three being awarded cash prizes of:
- $100 for first place
- $50 for second place
- $25 for third place
Why should you participate?
This challenge is an amazing way to leave your mark on the community. By submitting, you will:
● Contribute to the overall well-being of the residents of your community
● Build your resume
● Potentially win a cash prize
If chosen, your recipe will be a valuable contribution to The York Region Recipe Guide, which will be viewed by many people in your community. In addition, being featured in The York Region Recipe Guide is something you can add to your resume and your profile of community impact.
How to register
To submit your recipe, navigate to DiabetesHaven.net/Contest and view the instructions. The submission is done through a Google Form. Make sure to include detailed instructions, the price of each ingredient, measurements, and the amount of servings your recipe makes. You can submit your recipe as plaintext or as a PDF file.
Future impact
Our mission is to assist families in the York Region struggling financially to prepare wholesome, practical, and reasonably priced meals when many families are experiencing financial hardship. We hope that our recipes will help people manage their health and diets effectively and that we can change what some people think about eating healthy. We want to show our community that good food can still taste good and doesn’t have to break the bank or take hours to make.
Conclusion
Healthy eating shouldn’t feel impossible, and with your help, it won’t be. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or passionate about making a difference, your recipe can spark real change in our community. We can’t wait to see all the creative, nutritious and delicious meals you bring. Visit DiabetesHaven.net/Contest today to submit your entry and be a part of building a healthier, stronger community. Let’s prove together that healthy food can be easy, affordable, and absolutely delicious!
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