Real Food for Kids: Culinary Challenge

CULINARY CHALLENGE

Our students are changing school lunch menus.
And this is the only event where you can see how they do it!

Since 2012, the Real Food for Kids Culinary Challenge has provided students the unique experience of mirroring the responsibilities of school nutrition professionals by creating delicious, healthy school meals that represent the diverse culinary traditions in our school communities. All while staying within the defined nutrition parameters and cost thresholds of the federally funded National School Meal Program.

It is the only professional culinary competition open to both middle and high school students, and the only competition where students have an opportunity to see their recipe adapted and served on school lunch lines around the Greater Metropolitan Region.

The “challenge” at the heart of this competition is the same one faced by school food professionals every day: to craft healthy and delicious menu items that meet USDA guidelines and adhere to strict per-meal budgets.

THIS YEAR (2021 – 2022 School Year)

The culinary theme of this year’s competition is Buy Local Eat Local, asking students to source 50% or more of their ingredients locally or regionally.

While COVID-19 required us to detour from the traditional structure of the Culinary Challenge in 2020 and 2021, the goals have remained constant: to engage and support students in Family and Consumer Sciences and Culinary Arts electives, foster their ambition to create innovative, nutritious dishes that influence school meal programs, and provide a project-based learning platform for teachers.

Following two years of virtual competition, the Culinary Challenge returns to a live event, open to the public.

The 10th Annual Real Food for Kids Culinary Challenge was held on March 5, 2022, at Hayfield Secondary School, 7630 Telegraph Rd, Alexandria, VA 22315.

2022 CULINARY CHALLENGE WINNERS

Winner, 1st Place: Quinoa Quiche | Kenmore Middle School

Second Place + Winner of the Community Choice Award: Vegijita Wrapadilla | Franklin Middle School

Third Place – Tropical Stir Fry | Herndon High School

PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS

This year’s Culinary Challenge team lineup includes:

Blue Ridge Middle School (Loudoun County, VA)
Chantilly Academy (Fairfax County, VA)
Franklin Middle School (Fairfax County, VA)
Herndon High School (Fairfax County, VA)
Kenmore Middle School (Arlington County, VA), and
Takoma Park Middle School (Montgomery County, MD).

MASTER OF CEREMONIES

Ellie Krieger
Nutritionist and Dietician, Cookbook Author, host of Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger on Food Network, and Ellie's Real Good Food on PBS

CULINARY MENTOR

Ype Von Hengst
Executive Chef and Co-Founder, Silver Diner
VP of Culinary Operations at Silver Diner

2022 JUDGES

Kevin Tien

Executive Chef, Moon Rabbit, Owner/Exec. Chef Hot Lola's, three-time James Beard nominee, Food & Wine Best New Chef 2018 and co-founder of Chefs Stopping AAPI Hate