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.
14th Annual Real Food for Kids Culinary Challenge
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Hayfield Secondary School | 7630 Telegraph Rd, Alexandria, VA 22315
PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
LUNCH CATEGORY
Academies of Loudoun, Loudoun County Public Schools
Annandale High School, Fairfax County Public Schools
C.D. Hylton High School, Prince William County Public Schools
Duval High School, Prince George’s County Public Schools
Friendly High School, Prince George’s County Public Schools
Gainesville High School, Prince William County Public Schools
Gwynn Park High School, Prince George’s County Public Schools
Lightridge High School, Loudoun County Public Schools
Luther Jackson Middle School, Fairfax County Public Schools
Potomac Middle School, Prince William County Public Schools
Shady Grove Middle School, Montgomery County Public Schools
Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School, Prince George’s County Public Schools
BREAKFAST CATEGORY
Academies of Loudoun, Loudoun County Public Schools
Duval High School, Prince George’s County Public Schools
Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Prince George’s County Public Schools
Freedom High School, Prince William County Public Schools
Gainesville High School, Prince William County Public Schools
Oxon Hill High School, Prince George’s County Public Schools
Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School, Prince George’s County Public Schools
SNACK CATEGORY
Duval High School, Prince George’s County Public Schools
Freedom High School, Prince William County Public Schools
Gwynn Park High School, Prince George’s County Public Schools
Lightridge High School, Loudoun County Public Schools
Potomac Middle School, Prince William County Public Schools
Shady Grove Middle School, Montgomery County Public Schools
EVENT CHAIR
Chef Kevin Tien, Moon Rabbit
CULINARY MENTOR
Ype Von Hengst, Silver Diner
EMCEE
Eun Yang, NBC News Anchor
A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2025 CULINARY CHALLENGE SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS
IN THE NEWS
Loudoun teens compete in Real Food For Kids Culinary Challenge
Three Loudoun teams competed against more than 100 middle and high school students ...
Tasty: Takoma Park Middle School Wins, Puts Healthy Food On Area School Menus
The results are in and Takoma Park Middle School in Montgomery County, Md., ...
Vim & Victor’s Spike Mendelsohn signs on as a judge for Real Food for Kids Culinary Competition
We all know the debate over school lunches: Where should the food come ...
