AUBURN – Somewhere in the middle of class, celebrity chef Jon Ashton started mooing.

He had already prodded a self-proclaimed “bad cook” out of her seat to help him make a nutritious breakfast burrito, and he was about to pull several Auburn Middle School teachers up front to try healthy snacks and dance with joy.

But how to teach 50 young teenagers about calcium and protein without putting them to sleep?

“Moo-oo-oo!” Ashton said, high-pitched and silly, to a boy who forgot what he was going to say. “Come on up. Have a piece of cheese. It’ll help your brain out.”

The kids roared with laughter.

“He was funny. Usually you’d think chefs are just boring,” 13-year-old Cassie Michaud said. “And I learned a lot.”

Ashton, a British-born chef, grew up overweight and bullied until French chefs taught him a healthier way to eat. Since then, he’s dedicated himself to teaching kids proper nutrition.

Charming and enthusiastic, with a Liverpool accent, Ashton has appeared on NBC’s “Today,” “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” Food Network and the Discovery Channel. His own local access show, “The Mad Chef,” aired in Disney’s town of Celebration, Fla.

Sponsored by Vermont-based Cabot Cheese, Ashton has spent the last two years touring America and talking with kids.

“Children enjoy the message with fun,” he said.

Cabot invited Ashton to visit two Maine schools this week. Friday morning he spent time at Bucksport Middle School. Friday afternoon, he took over an Auburn Middle School consumer science class.

With a lot of dancing, a lot of cooking and a little mooing, Ashton worked to get his point across.

“Nine out of 10 girls don’t get enough calcium,” he said, warming an apple and cheese dessert quesadilla on the classroom stove. “Jimminy Cricket, that doesn’t sound good to me.”

He got a few kids to cook with him, including Michaud, who said she wasn’t a good cook. Ashton put her to work whisking eggs for a healthy breakfast burrito.

“You can cook, sweet pea,” he announced, grabbing her hand in triumph while her classmates applauded the burrito made with whole wheat tortilla, eggs, chopped vegetables and cheese.

Teachers taste-tested each of Ashton’s demonstration meals and then, at Ashton’s urging – and to the delight of students – the teachers danced with joy.

“It just goes to show you exercise can be fun,” he said.

Ashton sprinkled his show with tidbits of information: most kids don’t get enough calcium, calcium is important for bone growth, whole grains are best, wash your hands before you cook.

And then there was a nod to his sponsor, Cabot.

“Did you know it’s owned by farmers?” he asked, slicing cheese. “They care. That’s why they sent me here to see you.”

But students didn’t seem to mind the ad. They just thought Ashton was cool.

“I learned better things to eat,” said Miranda Casey, 12.