January 17, 2022

NPR recently interviewed one of the producers of Food Network’s Chopped Junior, a spinoff of Chopped created for budding chefs where kids compete in a timed exercise, preparing their best dishes from a basket of unlikely ingredients.

While the adult version is cut-throat, the producer said the younger contestants are so pure and innocent…when one of them is not finished plating their dish and time is running out, inevitably one of the other contestants asks, “Do you need help?” And, the kid running late always welcomes the support.

We adults can learn so much from the sportsmanship of these young chefs: 1) Competition can coexist with kindness and assistance; 2) Ask before engaging in helping behavior; and 3) Accept help for greater success.

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