Students and teachers from Ingleburn High have battled it out in a live cook off for the national launch of OzHarvest’s FEAST education program.

Under the watchful eye of celebrity chef and TV host, Colin Fassnidge, 10 students and teachers were given the My Kitchen Rules experience, tasked with cooking and plating up vegetable fritters in just 10 minutes.

Year 7 students Lachlan and Anastacia were declared the winners by judges Ronni Kahn, CEO and OzHarvest founder, Pate Cooper, Director, Education Leadership, and Samantha McMurdo, Ingleburn High teacher, in front of a cheering crowd of more than 250 Ingleburn High year 7 and 8 students.

Anastacia said she believed it was the “cream cheese and chives on top” that gave her dish the winning edge.

Ingleburn High is among several high schools piloting FEAST, a teacher-led, curriculum-aligned, 10-week program, which explores the issues and impact of food waste.

Ingleburn High Relieving Principal, Scott Belgre, said FEAST encouraged schools to plan, prepare and cook healthy and nutritious meals, while considering the impact on the environment.

“FEAST has been developed to ensure a real-world curriculum, where students prepare and present recipes using food that is often wasted,” he said.

“At Ingleburn High, we’ve been fortunate to pilot and launch this national program and through this educational opportunity, the next generation will be leaders in the change in how we see food waste.”

Mr Fassnidge told students they had an important role to play in spreading the word about food wastage.

“We can cook with 70 per cent of the food that goes in the bin. It’s up to you to change people’s perceptions,” he said.

The FEAST program is now available nationally and includes online access to teacher and student toolkits, lesson plans, recipes, video and classroom resources.

It offers a professional learning teacher training day, or an online training module, and all schools receive the curriculum material and teacher training free of charge.

Ingleburn High teacher, Deidre Williams, said students loved the hands-on aspect of the program and it had inspired them to make changes at home and school.

“They know they’re getting real-life skills out of FEAST. You can see the lightbulb moment when they create a recipe that reduces food waste and tastes delicious,” she said.

The FEAST program has been delivered to just over half of year 7 and 8 students at Ingleburn High, with the remaining students to participate in the program in 2024.

Ms Kahn said young people were the changemakers of the future.

“This generation is incredibly passionate about protecting our planet and FEAST helps connect the dots between food waste and climate change,” she said.

“It shows students what they can do to make a difference – at home and at school.”

Schools can sign up for FEAST here.