FARMINGTON – Cooking healthy helps build strong bones, muscles and also helps with school, said fourth-grader Vanessa Richards from Cascade Brook School.

“It’s fun to cook and I learned how good veggies are and how to make not favorite foods taste delicious,” said Joey Dean.

Park Laflin learned that eating breakfast means you won’t tend to eat more unhealthy stuff.

The three students were among 32 fourth-graders who took the Eat Smart Eat Local cooking challenge: Now You’re Cooking!

The students displayed their work for their families at a celebration and awards ceremony Wednesday at the school.

The program promotes healthy eating, good nutrition and the use of local products through fun and creative learning, said course designer Alyce Cavanaugh, SAD 9 health coordinator. The yearlong program was undertaken by all fourth-graders at Cascade Brook School this year.

“The obesity epidemic in Maine mirrors that throughout the U.S. Over 66 percent of adults in Franklin County are overweight or obese with 31 percent of our middle schoolers being overweight. This program is designed to help children learn how to make better food choices for themselves that will have a lifelong effect on their health and well-being,” Cavanaugh said.

The program was created during her senior year at the University of Maine at Farmington while doing a practicum with the Western Mountains Alliance’s Eat Smart and Eat Local program, she said Wednesday.

After the course was successful with middle school students last year, Cavanaugh extended it to the elementary grade. Other schools are inquiring about the program that Cavanaugh hopes to extend yet again.

During the year, fourth grade teachers at Cascade Brook taught about good nutrition, why breakfast is important to health and how to make healthier choices at fast-food restaurants.

Librarian Patricia Flint helped with workshops for students, Cavanaugh said. One popular one, the Fine Art of Tablescape, was part of the final cooking challenge voluntarily undertaken by the 32 students.

“The program really reaches kids,” state Rep. Tom Saviello said, “many who are not athletes.” He presented gold, silver and bronze awards to the top girl and boy cooks in the contest. Bronze winners were Roshan Luick and Justin Meservier. Silver winners were Emma Haywood and Ryan Voter, and gold winners were Adrienne Chandler and Cordell Ellis.

“It really touches kids who aren’t into sports or music. Everyone likes to cook, and this gives some students a chance to shine,” she added.

Students volunteered to design and prepare a healthy two-course meal for their family. It was to include locally grown ingredients and a creative and properly set “tablescape.” Displays of their work were posted Wednesday for viewing.

As part of the program this year, students have learned about how to shop for healthy foods at a local grocery store, tried exotic fruit, create attractive meals and table settings and about chocolate and fair trade from Pam West of Mt. View Chocolate Shoppe.

The students also sponsored an observance of National Breakfast Week for the entire school. With the help of volunteers from the community and the food services staff, specially designed meals were prepared for the students and their families. More than 450 people attended the weeklong event, Cavanaugh said.

“Everyone should eat healthy,” said fourth-grader Adrienne Chandler as she thought about what she’d learned this year. “It’s the best thing to do and will help you live longer.”