"A Healthy Bay for Healthy Kids: Cooking with Virginia’s First Lady" was the title of a springtime event at Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, and ten lucky second grade school students got to see and learn what it was all about.

First Lady Maureen McDonnell and former First Lady Susan Allen were present and highlighted the importance of healthy eating, each citing how it is practiced at their home. However, it was Peter Pahk, executive chef, Kingsmill Resort and Spa, assisted by Chef Ryan Manning of Colonial Williamsburg, who prepared and demonstrated to the students a delicious crab salad while they learned the importance of sustaining our natural resources.

Prior to the cooking demonstration, the students had been learning fun facts about crabs and what is needed to have a healthy Bay through hands-on activities and inter-active demonstration with Dr. Kirk Havens.

Maureen, mother of five, speaking to the children and their parents, told o...