Community Corner

'Top Chef,' Walmart Foundation Treat Starfinder Kids

Local youth soccer group receives check, free meal Wednesday.

Top Chef winner Kevin Sbraga turned the 's indoor soccer field Wednesday night into a makeshift kitchen for local kids hungry for sloppy joes.

In celebration of the Walmart Foundation's $50,000 donation to Starfinder, Sbraga treated elementary and middle school students to a healthy cooking demonstration on the pitch, as organizers launched the Manayunk facility's "Get Fit, Eat Right, Grow Strong" program.

"This a program that's trying to teach you and give you experiences in understanding what are good foods for you, how they are prepared... and the importance of the relationship between food and fitness," Starfinder CEO Stephen Baumann said to kids.

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Throughout the year, youth in the dual soccer-education program have crafted their own healthy snacks, like whole-wheat banana pancakes. Starfinder has emphasized the importance of good foods, and also good drinks—more water and less sugary drinks.

Tim Smyer, market manager for Walmart in the Philadelphia area, presented Starfinder with a ceremonial check to help develop the program.

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With the grant, Smyer said Starfinder would "engage you guys—the youth—in soccer training as well as (hands-on), classroom activities that introduce, develop and extend knowledge into making healthy food choices, food sciences and food preparation, and relate them to good fitness and good health."

In 2011, the Walmart Foundation donated over $2.9 million to Philadelphia area nonprofits, including Alex's Lemonade Stand, Cradles to Crayons, and Philabundance, among others, Smyer said.

A TV Star-finder

Sbraga won the 2010 season of Bravo TV's Top Chef, and recently opened his own, self-titled restaurant, Sbraga, at 440 South Broad St., off Lombard Street. On Wednesday he served up sloppy joes for hungry soccer players.

Starfinder's "Coach Nick" Chrisanthon pitched in on the lesson and highlighted the healthy options Sbraga included in the meal. The Top Chef transcended the basic cafeteria sloppy joe by using leaner turkey meat, adding carrots, and cooking with canola oil, as opposed to butter or fat, and brown sugar. 

They both answered kids questions throughout, like, "Why are you using carrots?"

"So we can cut down on the sugar. Carrots are naturally sweet and also offer a little bit of texture," Sbraga said.

In addition to the meal, each kid received a reusable water bottle.

Visit their websites for more information on Starfinder and the Walmart Foundation.

Check back with Patch Friday for a video of Top Chef Kevin Sbraga's cooking demonstration.


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