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.

13th Annual Real Food for Kids Culinary Challenge

Saturday, March 8, 2025

Hayfield Secondary School | 7630 Telegraph Rd Alexandria, VA 22315

PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS

The 2025 Culinary Challenge team lineup includes the following schools: 

LUNCH CATEGORY

Luther Jackson Middle School, Fairfax County Public Schools

C.D. Hylton High School, Prince William County Schools

Crossland High School, Prince George’s County Public Schools

Freedom High School, Prince William County Schools

Woodbridge High School, Prince William County Schools

Herndon High School, Fairfax County Public Schools

Falls Church High School, Fairfax County Public Schools

Woodson High School, Fairfax County Public Schools

Rock Ridge High School, Loudoun County Public Schools

Gwynn Park High School, Prince George’s County Public Schools

Henry Wise High School, Prince George’s County Public Schools

Theodore Roosevelt High School, DC Public Schools

BREAKFAST CATEGORY

C.D. Hylton High School, Prince William County Schools

Ballou High School, DC Public Schools

Takoma Park Middle School, Montgomery County Public Schools

Falls Church High School, Fairfax County Public Schools

Henry Wise High School, Prince George’s County Public Schools

Theodore Roosevelt High School, DC Public Schools

SNACK CATEGORY

Shady Grove Middle School, Montgomery County Public Schools

Gwynn Park High School, Prince George’s County Public Schools

Freedom High School, Prince William County Schools

Northwestern High School, Prince George’s County Public Schools

EVENT CHAIR

Chef Kevin Tien, Moon Rabbit

CULINARY MENTOR

Ype Von Hengst, Silver Diner

2025 JUDGES

COMING SOON

2024 CULINARY CHALLENGE WINNERS

A panel of celebrity chefs, culinary professionals, and local luminaries judged the lunch entries this year at Hayfield Secondary School.


Winner, 1st Place: Takoma Park Middle School | Lentil Vegetable Soup, Grilled Paneer Cheese with Mango Chutney and Masala Fries (Montgomery Co. Public Schools, MD)

Second Place: South Lakes High School | Beet Arepas with Black Bean Purée and Revuelta Criolla (Fairfax Co. Public Schools, VA)

Third Place: Luther Jackson Middle School | Cornucopia Cascade and Watermelon Pizza (Fairfax Co. Public Schools, VA)

2024 CULINARY CHALLENGE “COMMUNITY CHOICE” WINNERS

​​At a live tasting event, members of the public had the opportunity to ​judge lunch, snack, and breakfast entries for themselves.


Lunch: Takoma Park Middle School | Lentil Vegetable Soup, Grilled Paneer Cheese with Mango Chutney and Masala Fries (Montgomery Co. Public Schools, MD)

Breakfast: ​Freedom High School | Essential Strawberry Smoothie (Prince William Co. Public Schools, VA)

Snack: Freedom High School | Strawberry Muffins (Prince William Co. Public Schools, VA)

A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2024 CULINARY CHALLENGE SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS


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IN THE NEWS

2024 CULINARY CHALLENGE

Click to visit page and find out more about last year’s event!