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Marcus Samuelsson Gives Harlem Students Healthy Eating Lesson

 Left to right, Marcus Samuelsson, Jaynine Taylor, Bevy Smith and Ed Skyler talk to students at East Harlem Scholar Academy about healthy eating, Monday May 16, 2016.
Left to right, Marcus Samuelsson, Jaynine Taylor, Bevy Smith and Ed Skyler talk to students at East Harlem Scholar Academy about healthy eating, Monday May 16, 2016.
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Dartunorro Clark/DNAInfo

HARLEM — Dozens of school kids got a cooking lesson from a master — celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson.

Samuelsson, joined by TV and radio personality Bevy Smith, local cook Jaynine Taylor and Ed Skyler, who heads public affairs for Citi, hosted a breakfast party Monday morning with a demonstration for first through third graders at East Harlem Scholar Academy.  

The students worked with their guests to learn how to make quick fix healthy meals to start their day.

The meals included breakfast kabobs — mini whole wheat pancakes, strawberries and bananas  — and yogurt with honey and berries. 

"It's fun to teach what you taste and engaging with the kids," Samuelsson said, who walked the kids through the sweet and tart ingredients. 

 Students at East Harlem Scholar Academy makes breakfast kabobs Monday May 16, 2016.
Students at East Harlem Scholar Academy makes breakfast kabobs Monday May 16, 2016.
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Dartunorro Clark/DNAInfo

"Food is important," one first grader said. "I love yogurt." 

Smith said the opportunity for her was personal. 

"For me, I was them," Smith said. "I grew up here in Harlem, I know how important it is for them to have a healthy start."

The event leads up to the Harlem EatUp! Festival, which runs May 19 to May 22. The breakfast party was also a part of the No Kid Hungry program sponsored by Citi, which is sponsoring the festival, and the school's already implemented healthy eating program. 

"To have people in the community talk about (healthy eating) and for them to take time to do it was priceless," said the school's interim principal Desree Cabrall'Njenga. 

"They'll walk away today learning how to eat breakfast in a healthy way."