To encourage kids to choose healthy eating options, Governor Gina Raimondo and First Gentleman Andy Moffit have 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 to 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.”

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 St., 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.