MEET OUR KIDS ADVISORY BOARD: Liana
We’re excited to introduce our new ChopChop Kids Advisory Board (KAB). This group of cool kids was hand-selected from kids that applied. They’ll help us to test recipes, think of new ideas for the magazine, and make sure ChopChop gets the kid approval. For the next few weeks we’ll be spotlighting different members of the board.
This week, meet Liana! She loves basketball, reading, listening to music (especially Hamilton), adventuring in nature, and boogie boarding/swimming at the beach. She won the ELK’S (free throw) hoop shoot for the state of MA, and advanced to the Regionals (New England), where she got to spend a weekend at a fun hotel in Maine.
Name: Liana
Location: Wakefield, MA
Age and Grade: 14 years, rising 9th grader
How I got involved with the ChopChop Kids Advisory Board: A kind neighbor bought me a ChopChop subscription, and I liked it so much we kept reading/subscribing. I realized I wanted to be more active in the magazine, so I got involved in the KAB.
Who taught you how to cook? I’ve cooked with my mom since I was little, and with my grandma, and occasionally friends.
What is something all kids should learn to cook? I think all kids should know how to make scrambled eggs and toast. Though it sounds like a breakfast food, it’s really filling for lunch too, and the eggs are good for dinner protein.
Have you ever messed up a recipe? What was it and what happened? Yes, we made cookies but they ended up more like a pie or cake consistency. We just enjoyed the taste anyway- I’m pretty sure it’s because we used a lot of substitutes.
Do you have any advice for kids just learning to cook and who may be nervous? Don’t be afraid to mess up- worst is that you starts over, best is that you learn to make and enjoy a new favorite food!
Do you have any advice for kids who haven’t learned to cook but want to? Just make time for it- cooking might seem like lots of extra work and time, but if you only take about 10-20 minutes, you can make a great meal or snack.
My favorite food is: Pizza
If I was a vegetable or fruit I would be: Watermelon
What I love about ChopChop is: Learning new and healthy recipes, meeting new people who share my interests, and testing delicious recipes.
Something I didn’t used to like to eat, but I do now is: Almonds
My favorite thing to cook is: Lasagna or meatloaf
The first thing I ever cooked was: Scrambled eggs and grilled cheese
My secret ingredient is: Black pepper
What I want to be when I grow up: Not entirely sure, but perhaps a mother, teacher, scientist, or basketball player.
My favorite ChopChop recipe is: “Smashed Potatoes”