Winners announced for 'Kids' State Dinner'

Michelle Obama and Epicurious have announced the 54 recipe winners representing each US state and territory. The children will join the first lady for a healthy lunch and a tour of the White House kitchen garden.

Michelle Obama, Epicurious, the US Department of Education, and the Department of Agriculture have announced the recipe winners for the second 'Kids' State Dinner' to be held at the White House on July 9. The recipe contest and the dinner are part of Mrs. Obama's efforts to promote healthy eating among America’s youth through her "Let's Move!" initiative.

The contest for lunchtime recipes was open to children living in any of the US states, three territories, and the District of Columbia. Each winning recipe had to meet the criteria that supports the USDA MyPlate guidelines (ChooseMyPlate.gov) by representing each of the food groups including, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy foods.

The judges received more than 1,300 entries.

“This year, we received very sophisticated recipe entries from all over the country that featured healthy ingredients like salmon, Greek yogurt, and ground turkey, which made it a delicious challenge to select the finalists,” said Epicurious editor-in-chief Tanya Steel in a release announcing the winners.  “Each recipe also included anecdotes explaining the importance of healthy eating. The insight from the kids who entered the challenge demonstrates that today’s youth understands the need to strengthen their bodies and minds with the most wholesome ingredients available.”

The winning recipes and their titles range from local ingredients ("Alaskan Ceviche with Mango," "Pan Seared Mississippi Catfish on a Bed of River Rice"), to the sophisticated palate ("Quinoa 'Risotto' with Shrimp and Kale"), to the basic ("Raisin Bran Muffins"), and the encouraging ("Picky Eater Pita Pizza Pockets," "Bring it On, Brussels Sprout Wrap!").

“Our Kids’ State Dinner is one of my favorite events of the year, and the kid chefs who come from around the country never cease to impress and inspire me with their creativity and ingenuity," Mrs. Obama said. "I’m counting down the days until the winners join me at the White House to celebrate these healthy and delicious meals that kids everywhere will love."

To check out the winning list of recipes online, go to letsmove.gov/kids-state-dinner-winners.

A free downloadable and printable e-cookbook of the winning recipes, including nutritional analyses and photos, will be available in July at the contest site, epicurious.com, letsmove.gov, USDA.gov, and Ed.gov.