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.
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 PBSCULINARY MENTOR
Ype Von Hengst
Executive Chef and Co-Founder, Silver DinerVP of Culinary Operations at Silver Diner
2022 JUDGES
Chef Kevin Tien
Chef-Owner, Moon Rabbit; Chef-Owner, Hot Lola's; Co-Founder of Chefs Stopping AAPI Hate
David Hagedorn
Restaurant critic: Arlington/Bethesda Magazines; Washington Post contributor; cookbooks author
Shelby McCrone
Co-Executive Chef for Junction Bakery & Bistro brand and winner of Food Network’s 2021 Battle of the Brothers with the Voltaggio brothers
Stefano Marzano
Founder, President and Executive Chef of MightyMeals, the D.C. area’s premier meal prep service
Shane Logan
Virginia Department of Education, Office of School Nutrition Programs (VDOE-SNP) Culinary Specialist
Dahlia Badt
Student (7th Grader), Takoma Park Middle School, Montgomery County, MD | Winner of the 2021 Culinary Challenge
2022 CULINARY CHALLENGE EXHIBITORS
Bold Fork Books
George Mason University School of Nutrition and Food Studies
Junction Bakery & Bistro
La Cocina
Food Samples
MightyMeals
Food Samples
Silver Diner
Culinary Challenge Sponsor
VegFund
Culinary Challenge Sponsor
Informational
BOOK SIGNING
with James Beard Award Winner
ELLIE KRIEGER
Get your photo taken with
REAL FOOD FOR KIDS’
MR. BROCCOLI
The Vegejita Wrapadilla, created by 7th grade girls, will be on FCPS lunch menus this fall
The Vegejita Wrapadilla: Franklin Middle School Team Creates Winning FCPS School Lunch Offering
Kenmore Students win 2022 Real Food for Kids Culinary Challenge
Culinary Challenge 2022 – Kenmore Middle School Video
Real Food for Kids 1.mp4
This is “Real Food for Kids 1.mp4” ...
