Exciting news coming from Armenia! The Kids Cooking for Kids cookbook, featuring recipes from young participants in the Healthy Lifestyle Ambassadors competition, has been shortlisted for the prestigious 2025 Gourmand Awards. Created by kids and for kids, this collection is set to become a beloved resource for young chefs worldwide, showcasing creative and healthy culinary ideas now awaiting international recognition!
About the competition
Launched in Armenia in the spring of 2024, the Healthy Lifestyle Ambassadors competition was initiated by the Armenian Ministry of Health with support from the UN World Food Programme (WFP), the Social and Industrial Foodservice Institute (SIFI), and the School Feeding and Child Welfare Agency (SFCW). The goal is to encourage schoolchildren to embrace a healthy lifestyle and become ambassadors who share this valuable knowledge with peers and family.
The competition consisted of several rounds, including Tasty and Healthy: My Favorite Recipe, where participants created healthy recipes, demonstrating both the cooking process and nutritional benefits.
From recipe to book: the Story of Kids Cooking for Kids
As the competition neared its final round, organizers were impressed by the creativity and variety of children's recipes. They decided to collect the best entries in a vibrant cookbook, giving rise to Kids Cooking for Kids. This book goes beyond just providing recipes; it aims to inspire kids everywhere to start cooking, adopt healthy habits, and enjoy the benefits of a balanced diet. It includes standout dishes from the competition, such as:
Lentil Salad from the Zartonk School team (Armavir) — a perfect addition to lunch or dinner
Vitamin Sandwich from the Gyumri School team — an energy-packed breakfast option
Dandelion Leaf Salad from the Noratus Secondary School team — a refreshing and simple salad
Light Caesar Salad from the Shirak School team — a kid-friendly take on a classic favorite
Gourmand Awards: global recognition
Kids Cooking for Kids captured the hearts of Armenian children and went international, earning a place on the 2025 Gourmand Awards shortlist. Founded by Edouard Cointreau in 1995, the Gourmand Awards celebrate the world’s best cookbooks, honoring contributions to culinary culture. Kids Cooking for Kids is nominated in the D01 ‘Cookbooks’ and D03 ‘Children's Books’ categories, with the winners to be announced at the awards ceremony in June 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal.
This cookbook stands as a proud example of how youth initiatives can inspire healthy lifestyles for an entire generation. Whatever the outcome of the Gourmand Awards, Kids Cooking for Kids has already gained admiration in Armenia and promises to reach young readers around the globe.