Up for a Challenge? Enter the Michigan Junior Chef Competition!

The Michigan Junior Chef Competition is open to all 7th-12th grade students enrolled in Michigan schools. According to the rules, teams must consist of 3-4 students and at least one adult coach.

The competition has two parts. The first is a recipe contest with an entry deadline of March 14, 2011. Student teams are to submit their recipes for a healthy school lunch meal that features local, seasonal foods. Recipes will be judged on (1) nutritional quality, (2) use of local ingredients and (3) whether it can be replicated in a school food service setting given the time and labor required to create the meal.

The second part of the competition is the Michigan Junior Chef Cook-Off Competition where 8 teams that are finalists from the recipe contest will prepare their recipe on-site at Michigan State University on May 11, 2011. Meals will be judged by an expert panel on (1) nutritional quality, (2) use of local ingredients, (3) whether it can be replicated in a school food service setting given the time and labor required to create the meal, (4) taste, (5) presentation, and (6) creativity.

Michigan Junior Chef is sponsored by the USDA, Michigan Team Nutrition, Michigan Department of Education, the C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at MSU, and the United Dairy Industry of Michigan.

Visit the Michigan Junior Chef website for official rules and more information.

The Michigan Junior Chef Website and logo were designed by Eat Local Food LLC.