6th annual Kids Cooking Challenge seeks healthy recipes

    kids cooking challenge
    Contestants from a past Walk On! Kids Cooking Challenge show off their recipes. Photo courtesy of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona.

    Is there a young sous chef in your household? Does your child like to lend a hand with meal preparation? Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona is looking for the next great kid chef during the sixth annual Walk On! Kids Cooking Challenge.

    This kid-inspired side-dish recipe contest is aimed at motivating Arizona kids to incorporate healthy choices into their daily diets.

    The contest is open to kids ages 9 to 12 who live in Arizona. They can submit their favorite healthy and delicious side dish recipes through Wednesday, Jan. 27 to be eligible to win a brand new bike. Finalists will also get the chance to prepare and share their yummy creations at the Saturday, Feb. 6 Phoenix Suns home game downtown at Talking Stick Resort Arena.

    “One of the best ways to nurture healthy eating choices in kids is to encourage them to help prepare food using nutrition-rich ingredients,” says Myrna Collins, health promotion executive at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. “Over the course of the last five years, we have been in awe of the creative and nutritious side dishes that kid chefs in Arizona have developed. We’re looking forward to seeing the creativity of our contestants this year.”

    Recipes must include the following criteria:

    • An original recipe for a hot or cold side dish
    • Contain at least one fruit and/or vegetable
    • Take no more than 20 minutes to cook (not including prep time)

    The top five entries will be selected based on nutritional value, taste and originality. After the cooking demonstrations at the Feb. 6 Suns game, recipe details will be posted online for a public vote at walkonaz.com.

    Voting opens at noon on Saturday, Feb. 6 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 17. The winner will be announced on or around Friday, Feb. 19.

    Visit walkonaz.com for contest details and to submit a recipe. All entries must be submitted no later than midnight on Wednesday, Jan. 27.