Dresden Girl Represents Maine at the White House

Sienna Mazone with First Lady Michelle Obama during the Kids’ State Dinner at the Whitehouse. (Photo courtesy Kimberly Mazone)

Sienna Mazone’s concept for her recipe’s presentation was captured in this photo, which accompanied her submission. (Photo courtesy Sienna Mazone)

As 12-year-old Sienna Mazone was attending the Kids’ State Dinner at the White House on July 18, she not only realized she was experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but

also recognized her responsibility of being a role model for Maine children.

Mazone won the invitation to represent Maine at the White House by submitting a winning recipe in Michelle Obama’s Healthy Lunchtime Challenge, which encouraged

children ages 8 to 12 to submit an original, healthy recipe.

The challenge was part of an initiative aimed at improving obesity in children. The submitted recipes also needed to meet the federal My Plate guidelines, which

include fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins.

Besides the obvious criteria of tasting great, the recipe had to be affordable and made with ingredients that are readily available.

Fifty-four student winners, one from each U.S state as well as the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S Virgin Islands, along with one parent or

guardian were flown courtesy of Delta Airlines to Washington, D.C. to attend the Kids’ State Dinner, hosted by the first lady at the White House.

Cooking has been a passion of Mazone’s since she was old enough to stand in a chair and help out in the kitchen, she said.

Kimberly Mazone, Sienna’s mother, said July 25 her daughter prepares meals for the family on a regular basis and often does the grocery shopping as well. Sienna is

given a budget, which encourages her to think of substitutions for less expensive ingredients, her mother said.

“It’s great for math skills,” said Kimberly.

Both Sienna and her 8-year old brother are home-schooled. Although both children are home-schooled, Kimberly said the family is very interested in what is going on

in the local schools, in particular with school lunch programs.

Sienna’s father, Zach, is a family practice resident who often makes presentations about lifestyle changes that can make people feel better, which include nutrition,

exercise, sunlight, temperance, air, and rest, Kimberly said.

“Some of these don’t cost anything,” she said.

Knowing Sienna’s passion for cooking, her aunt sent her an article about the contest and encouraged her to enter.

Last year she finished as one of Maine’s semifinalists with her creation of a veggie burger made with oats, walnuts, and flax seed, served with tomato and tamari

sauce. The young girl decided to give this year’s contest a try just two days before the contest’s deadline.

Sienna said her mom gave her four ingredients to start: an avocado, sweet potato, red Fresno chili pepper and multigrain tortillas, just like they do on the Food

Network show “Chopped,” which has inspired many of Sienna’s recipes.

She came up with her winning Mexican Haystacks by adding red onion, tomato, cilantro, lime juice, salt, cumin, and refried beans to make a salsa dip. The tortillas

are toasted and used for dipping.

The family had just been to the Boston Museum of Science to see an exhibit about chef Ferran Adria, who started out as a line chef at age 22. The family was inspired

by his use of color and texture in his food presentation.

Her recipe listed very specific instructions for making the haystack to create colorful and appetizing presentation. Mazone did say she was disappointed in the way

the Washington chefs displayed her recipe.

“I don’t even think I would have eaten it,” Sienna said. “It looked like they just threw the tomatoes on the plate.”

Sienna’s recipe and the other 53 recipes are compiled in a cookbook which is available electronically at http://www.recipechallenge.epicurious.com by clicking the “2014 Healthy Lunchtime Challenge Cookbook” tab on the right side

of the page.

Nine winning recipes were chosen to be served at the formal luncheon, which was served on china ordered by Edith and Woodrow Wilson in 1918, said Kimberly Mazone.

She said she and her daughter saw the exact china on display at the Natural History Museum after the luncheon and identified it.

“It was the first American-made china and was made by Lenox,” said Kimberly Mazone.

Sienna said she felt like royalty as they were each introduced individually before sitting down at the table and attended to by White House staff during the

luncheon. Sienna and her mother shared their table with Al Roker, of the “Today” show, who was there to cover the event. Kimberly said their conversations with Roker evolved

around his career development.

Dinner guests were also treated to a live performance of the musical production of Disney’s “Lion King.”

“It was pretty cool,” Sienna said.

President Obama made a surprise visit to the luncheon and told the children he and his family try to eat healthy but admitted they are human and sometimes give into

temptations.

According to Sienna, the president exposed his own weakness of guacamole and chips and shared the first lady’s love of french fries.

“Mrs. Obama told us to stay healthy, keep cooking and be positive role models,” Sienna said.

Being a role model for other children is something Sienna is taking seriously. She is planning to continue her work at The Ark in Lewiston, where she helps teach

healthy cooking classes.

“I am praying for guidance for what I should do,” Sienna said.

While in Washington, Sienna wanted to see Sen. Angus King to talk about the progress in Maine around healthier lifestyles and offer some suggestions which may help.

King was not able to sit with her, but spoke with her briefly.

Sienna left a letter for King urging him to allow the kids to become involved in the kitchen and suggested schools limit the unhealthy choices. Sienna did get to

talk with King’s senior policy adviser, Marge Kilkelly, of Dresden, with whom she shared her ideas.

For Sienna, the biggest highlight was meeting and talking to Michelle Obama and having her picture taken with her. “I was so excited to be near her,” Sienna said.

“I can always come back to Washington, but meeting Mrs. Obama was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” she said. “When I spoke with her, I told her she was my hero.”

Sienna said Obama replied, “The kids are my heroes.”

Kimberly Mazone said she is proud of her daughter, not for just winning a chance to go to Washington, but because Sienna has already begun thinking globally about

what they can do as a family to help promote lifestyle changes to make children healthier.

“I told her this is only the beginning and her new responsibility is a gift,” Kimberly said.