PROVIDENCE, R.I. - To encourage kids to choose healthy eating options, Governor Gina Raimondo and First Gentleman Andy Moffit today announced the RI Kids' Healthy Recipe Challenge. In partnership with the RI Community Food Bank and Eat Drink RI, the contest asks for kids in grades 5- 8 to create and submit healthy and affordable food recipes.
"Andy and I always want to be sure that our kids are getting a proper balanced diet, and a lot of that comes from cooking healthy and delicious foods together," said Raimondo. "Healthy kids and families create healthy communities and a stronger economy."
"As a father, I care deeply about Rhode Island kids' health," said Moffit. "Some of my focus areas as First Gentleman are raising awareness on our food economy and tackling hunger issues. This contest is a great way for kids to promote healthy habits, while encouraging them to be engaged in their community."
"We're grateful that the Governor and First Gentlemen are promoting healthy eating and, more importantly, healthy cooking," said David Dadekian, Founder and President of Eat Drink RI. "Cooking meals from scratch uses local produce and ingredients, and it's so important to get Rhode Island's schoolchildren excited about eating well. We're also happy to highlight the RI Community Food Bank facility and mission through this great event."
"I am pleased that the Governor and First Gentleman are engaging young people in developing recipes that are both healthy and affordable," said Food Bank CEO Andrew Schiff. "As so many families in Rhode Island struggle to put food on the table. One of the greatest challenges is to prepare inexpensive, nutritious meals that are also delicious. I can't wait to see what our future chefs create!"
The RI Kids' Healthy Recipe Challenge invites children in grades 5-8 to submit a healthy and affordable recipe with a photo or drawing of the dish and estimated cost of preparing the dish by November 30, 2015 to:
RI Kids' Healthy Recipe Challenge C/O Governor's Communications Office 82 Smith Street, Room 128 Providence, RI 02903
Participants can also scan and send the submission to Communications@governor.ri.gov.
The winning recipes will be selected in three categories - starter, entrée and dessert. The top recipes will be published in a recipe booklet to be made available for download on the Governor's website.
Winners will be notified in December and invited, along with guests, to attend the 2015 RI Kid's Healthy Luncheon hosted by Raimondo and Moffit at the RI Community Food Bank on Saturday, January 9, where the winning dish for each category will be served.
Students from the Food Bank's Community Kitchen culinary job training program will prepare the meal.
All partners will use the hashtag #HealthyRI in relation to the challenge.
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