Recipe Contest Could Send Texas Kids to White House

The recipe contest is part of the first lady's 'Lets Move!' campaign to reduce childhood obesity

First lady Michelle Obama wants to know about the healthy meals Texas kids like to eat.

The first lady is looking for healthy recipes from kids ages 8 to 12 that meet the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s nutritional guidelines.

One winner from each of the 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, plus U.S. territories, will attend a "State Dinner" at the White House where the winning healthy recipes will be served.

Recipes should represent each of the food groups, either in one dish or as parts of a lunch meal, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein and low-fat dairy foods, according to the rules.

The recipe contest is part of the first lady's 'Lets Move!' campaign to reduce childhood obesity.

Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled, and today, nearly one in three children in America are overweight or obese. In Texas, 32 percent of children are considered clinically obese, according to 2010 data from The Kaiser Family Foundation.

The winning recipes will be chosen by a panel of judges that includes Epicurious Editor-in-Chief Tanya Steel, Assistant White House Chef Sam Kass, USDA and Department of Education representatives, as well as a celebrity chef.

The White House kids “State Dinner” will happen in August.

Recipes can be submitted through June 17. Click here to submit recipes online or mail your healthy dish details to: The Healthy Lunchtime Challenge c/o Epicurious.com, 1166 Avenue of the Americas, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10036.

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