(WSVN) - A local teen has turned his passion into a mission by trying to make sure South Florida kids don’t go hungry. Brandon Beyer shows us how he’s “Baking a Difference.”
Tyler Zager is only 13 years old and has already appeared on the Food Network, winning the “Kids BBQ Championship.”
Tyler even co-hosted an episode of the popular “Beat Bobby Flay” cooking show. He also helped design the kids menu at Kitchen 305 in Sunny Isles Beach.
He has always loved to cook.
Tyler Zager, teen chef and volunteer: “My first memory of cooking is definitely going to my grandma’s house on the weekends.”
When he was about 9, he joined his mom in the kitchen.
Tyler Zager: “I helped my mom cook dinner until eventually I took over.”
So, it’s no surprise when the seventh-grader saw a commercial for the charity No Kid Hungry and wanted to get involved.
He decided to sell homemade baked goods at a local farmers market to raise money for the organization.
Tyler Zager: “I said, ‘Why not combine my passion with something that helps people that are less fortunate than me?'”
No Kid Hungry is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to end child hunger.
It’s estimated 81,650 kids go to bed hungry in Broward County and 132,810 in Miami-Dade.
7News spent some time in the kitchen with Tyler.
Tyler Zager: “I can tell you what goes in there, not how much.”
As he prepared his family’s “secret recipe” for “chocolate chip cookies,” he showed off his guns.
Tyler Zager: “This is where the muscles comes in.”
Tyler sells the cookies at bake sales in Plantation, and has no problem attracting customers.
Amanda Chaiet, college student: “I recognized him because I watch Food Network all the time.”
Grant Leff, Weston resident: “It’s cool. You see a kid doing stuff like this, it draws you in.”
Tyler encourages kids his age to find a passion because one day they just might be baking a difference, too.
Tyler Zager: “Just keep doing what you like. One day, something good will definitely happen.”
Tyler raised about $3,500 last year. He’s hoping for $5,000 this year. He’s taking a break from bake sales over the summer but says you can still donate by clicking on one of the links below.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Tyler Zager’s website
http://www.tylerzager.com/
No Kid Hungry campaign
https://www.nokidhungry.org/
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