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Hey Kids, Let's Get Cooking!

Summary: 
Let's Move is excited to announce the second Healthy Lunchtime Challenge & Kids’ State Dinner. If you are a young chef and would like to attend, submit your recipe today!

Ed. Note: This is a cross post from LetsMove.gov. You can find the original post here.

First Lady Michelle Obama is once again challenging America’s most creative junior chefs to put their talents to good use and whip up some delicious lunchtime recipes.

Epicurious Kids’ State Dinner Place Setting

A booklet of the winning lunch recipes is provided with the place setting at the Kids’ State Dinner in the East Room of the White House, Aug. 20, 2012. First Lady Michelle Obama hosted the luncheon for 54 children from all over the United States who were asked to create an original lunch recipe that was healthy and affordable. (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert)

Let's Move! is thrilled to announce the Second Healthy Lunchtime Challenge & Kids’ State Dinner, a nationwide recipe challenge that originated to promote healthy eating among America’s youth, sponsored by The White House, the U.S. Department of Education, and Epicurious.

“Last year’s Kids' State Dinner was one of my favorite events we’ve ever done for Let’s Move! because it perfectly captured how young people, parents, community leaders and businesses can come together for innovative, healthy solutions,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “Last year’s young chefs impressed and inspired me with their creativity, and I can’t wait to welcome a whole new group to the White House this summer and taste their creations. So kids, let’s get cooking!”

The second Healthy Lunchtime Challenge & Kids' “State Dinner” invites parents or guardians and their kids, ages 8-12, to create and submit an original lunch recipe that is healthy, affordable, and tasty. Each recipe must adhere to the guidance that supports USDA’s MyPlate to ensure that the criteria of a healthy meal are met. Entries must represent each of the food groups, either in one dish or as parts of a lunch meal, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and low-fat dairy foods, with fruits and veggies making up roughly half the plate or recipe.

Fifty-six children and their parent/guardian (one pair from each of the 50 states, plus the U.S. Territories, D.C., and Puerto Rico) will be flown to Washington, DC where they will have the opportunity to attend a Kids’ “State Dinner” at the White House this summer, hosted by Mrs. Obama. A selection of the winning healthy recipes will be served.

President Barack Obama Drops by the Epicurious Kids’ State Dinner

President Barack Obama drops by the Kids’ State Dinner in the East Room of the White House, Aug. 20, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Recipes can be submitted April 3 through May 12 online at recipechallenge.epicurious.com, or via mail at “The Healthy Lunchtime Challenge c/o Epicurious.com,” 1166 Avenue of the Americas, 15thFloor, New York, NY 10036.


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