The Healthy Lunchtime Challenge & Kids’ “State Dinner”

Last week, ChopChop had the honor of attending the First Lady Michelle Obama’s Healthy Lunchtime Challenge Kids’ “State Dinner” as a part of her Let’s Move! initiative. Let’s Move! is dedicated to putting children on the path to a healthy future through family education, healthier food in schools, healthy food accessibility, and physical activity.

The Healthy Lunchtime Challenge invites 8 to 12-year-olds across the nation to create healthy, affordable, original, and delicious lunch recipes. Teaching kids to cook is a great way to ensure they learn healthy habits early in life. Research shows that children who help with cooking and meal preparation are more likely to consume fruits and vegetables, and they are more aware of the importance of making healthier food choices.

From more than 1,200 entries, this year, 56 aspiring young chefs were chosen as winners and were able to attend the Kids’ “State Dinner” alongside the First Lady for a healthy lunch. We had the chance to speak with Abby Newman, the winner from Massachusetts about her experience.

ChopChop: What is the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge?
Abby: It’s a challenge to make a healthy recipe that includes grains, protein, fruit, vegetables, and dairy.

ChopChop: Tell us about your winning recipe!
Abby: I wanted to represent the state of Massachusetts, so I thought about cranberries and apples. For protein, I chose Cod and added oats and milk to create my Fit to Run Boston Marathon Cod-Potato Cake.

 ChopChop: What was your favorite part of the day at the White House?
 Abby: Eating and meeting the First Lady!

 ChopChop: What was your favorite dish you ate at the Kids’ “State Dinner”?
 Abby: The smoothie! Alaska’s “Wrapped Alaska Denali Style and Spinach Smoothie”.