Calling all talented Junior Chefs! If you are the parent of a budding chef between the ages of 8 and 12, you’re invited to work together and send in your child’s original lunch recipe inspired by the USDA’s MyPlate. You and your child could win a trip to Washington, D.C., and you may have the opportunity to represent your state at the Kids’ “State Dinner,” hosted by Mrs. Obama at the White House. To inspire families around the country to eat well, First Lady Michelle Obama, the USDA, the U.S. Department of Education, and Epicurious have once again teamed up for the third annual Healthy Lunchtime Challenge recipe contest.
Sweeps Rating: Okay
Eligibility: US, DC. Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, 18 and older and the parent or legal guardian of a child between the ages of 8 and 12.
Entry Dates: March 5, 2014 and ends 11:59 PM ET April 5, 2014
Website Entry | Official Rules
Print out from the website or otherwise obtain a paper version of the official entry form, and mail it to:
The Healthy Lunchtime Challenge & Kids “State Dinner
c/o Epicurious, 1166 Avenue of the Americas, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Regardless of your method of entry, you must include:
(a) the title of an original recipe; this is for one healthy lunch time meal incorporating the USDA nutrition guidance supporting MyPlate at ChooseMyPlate.gov, particularly the ways you can make half your plate or recipe filled with fruits and vegetables
(b) brief essay giving some details about the recipe (e.g., how did you come up with it? Like MyPlate, how can you make half your plate fruits and vegetables? What would you serve with your recipe so that you can include all or most of the major food groups, as detailed on ChooseMyPlate.gov? Would you include on the side a fruit, veggie, lean protein, whole grain or low-fat dairy? Is your recipe gluten-free, lactose-free or nut-free?)
(c) ingredient list with ingredients in exact common U.S. household measurements in order of use (all ingredients must be commonly available at local retailers)
(d) step-by-step preparation instructions, including cooking times
(e) the number of servings the recipe will make
(f) a photograph or drawing of the completed dish
Do not submit any brand names; all ingredients should be listed using generic names only. Essays, ingredient lists, and preparation instructions may not exceed the space allotted on the entry form. Do not include your child or any other people in the photographs submitted. Entrants represent and warrant that their Submission is the original work of such entrant, it has not been copied from others, and it does not violate the rights of any other person or entity.
Entry Limit: one entry per person and one entry per e-mail address during the Promotion Period for each of their children.
Fifty-six (56) Prizes (one winner from each state, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the District of Columbia): two roundtrip coach airfare tickets from the major commercial airport nearest the winner’s primary residence in the US to Washington DC, one standard hotel room (double occupancy) for one night at a hotel selected by Sponsor. ARV: $865
In the initial round, judging criteria: 50% healthy nutritional value of the recipe; 25% perceived taste; 15% creativity and originality; 5% affordability and 5% the story behind your recipe. Up to three (3) entries from each state, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the District of Columbia with the highest overall scores will be declared finalists.
The finalists’ recipes will then be prepared in a test kitchen according to the instructions of the finalists’ Submissions, and the panel of judges will then judge finalists’ Submissions based on the same criteria set forth above, but now taking into account the results of the recipe test preparation. One entry from each state, plus Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the District of Columbia with the highest overall score will be declared potential winners.
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