Local 8-year-old to represent Wisconsin in Healthy Lunchtime Challenge – OnMilwaukee.com

Published June 24, 2016 at 2:17 p.m.

Today, the winners were announced for the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge, a nationwide recipe challenge which invites 8- to 12-year-olds across the nation to create a healthy, affordable, original and delicious lunch recipes which showcase balanced nutrition and locally grown ingredients.

Over 1,200 entries were received from children across the U.S., with 56 winners chosen from all 50 U.S. states, five territories and the District of Columbia.

Among the winning entries is a recipe for Wisconsin cranberry chickpea salad from Raya El-Hajjar, an 8-year-old from Whitefish Bay.

“In my family, we eat a lot of hummus, and lately I wanted to know where hummus comes from,” says El-Hajjar of her recipe. “I read an article that said that the main ingredient in hummus is chickpeas. I discovered that chickpeas are really a super food, and they are so tasty too!

“In the summer, my brother and sister and I love to pick fresh vegetables from our backyard, and we make different kinds of salads with them. So for this salad, we used our parsley and red and yellow peppers. Wisconsin is famous for cheese and cranberries. This is an easy, delicious salad that has actually all the nutrients you need!”

Wisconsin cranberry chickpea salad

Makes 4 servings
312 calories, 12 g. fat, 38 g. Carbohydrates, 15 g. Protein

Ingredients:
2 15 ounce cans of chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 bunch parsley, finely chopped
Juice of one fresh lemon
¼ tsp. Salt
1 T olive oil
1 red bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
3 ounces feta, cubed
2 T dried cranberries

Preparation:

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the chickpeas and parsley. Add the lemon juice, salt and olive oil and stir thoroughly to combine.

2. On a large serving platter, arrange the chickpea salad and add the red and yellow bell pepper slices around it. Sprinkle the feta and cranberries on top and enjoy with family or friends!

Off to the White House

The winners were chosen by a panel of judges that included: Debra Eschmeyer, Executive Director of Let’s Move!and Senior Policy Advisor for Nutrition; Lauren Purcell, Editor-in-Chief of Rachael Ray Every Day Magazine; Jackie Haven, MS, RD, Deputy Director, USDA’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion; Stephenie Fu, Senior Policy Advisor, USDA’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion; Gena Kochan, Office of General Counsel, USDA; Kristina Spencer, Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Department of Education; Tanya Steel, Editorial Director of Clean Plates; previous Healthy Lunchtime Challenge winners; and participants in the Common Threads program for children.

All winners, including El-Hajjar, will attend a Kids’ “State Dinner” at the White Estate hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama on July 14. The 56 aspiring young chefs and a parent or guardian will join the First Lady for a healthy lunch, featuring a selection of the winning recipes, followed by a visit to the White Estate Kitchen Garden.

In addition, at the Kids’ “State Dinner,” winners will have the opportunity to learn from author, daytime host, child nutrition advocate and member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition Rachael Ray, whose Yum-o! organization has actually joined to support this year’s Healthy Lunchtime Challenge.

The full list of winners and recipes can be found online at http://ift.tt/1Dnvk0r. A free downloadable and printable e-cookbook, including full recipes, will also be made available online beginning July 14.