Real Food for Kids 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 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 on March 5, 2022 at Hayfield Secondary School.

Team Registration opens October 20, 2021 and closes November 3, 2021.

Registration for the Public Tasting on March 5, 2022 opens January 22, 2022

To receive updates on the Culinary Challenge and other Real Food for Kids programs, please join our mailing list.

Questions? Contact Us