Earlier this week, First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed schools that met the First Lady’s goal to double the number of participants in the HealthierUS School Challenge in a year to the White House to celebrate their achievement.

The HealthierUS School Challenge recognizes schools that create healthier school environments by providing exceptional nutrition education, nutritious food and beverage choices, physical education and opportunities for physical activity. 

During the event on the South Lawn, the First Lady shared success stories from the schools:

There’s the Burlington Elementary School in North Dakota. This is happening all over the country. All over the country. They were the first school in that state to plant a school garden. And they've opened up their gym on the weekends, making an open gym for the families in their community. And the teachers eat breakfast and lunch with students every single day. Now, that's a sacrifice. (Laughter.) You know it. That's love. (Laughter.) They even send out a monthly newsletter called, “Nutrition Notes,” to provide healthy eating tips and recipes for the families.

And other schools have started running clubs and fitness competitions. You’ve engaged students in taste tests and recipe contests. You’ve incorporated nutrition education into subjects ranging from math and science and art. You’ve done it all.

So you’ve shown us that there is no one way to win this award. There's just no one silver bullet. You come from urban, suburban, rural communities. You come from schools that are big and small. Every school and every community is different. That we know. There is no one-size-fits-all solution here.

Even though each school is different, they each have made a commitment to use creativity and new ideas to keep kids eating healthy. As part of the event to honor the schools, the White House shared a booklet of healthy recipes (pdf).

Here's one recipe for warm roasted apples from White House Executive Pastry Chef, Bill Yosses:

Roasted Apples with Blue Cheese

Ingredients:

• 2 large  Gala apples cut into half vertically
• Two tbsp lemon juice
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• Half cup water
• One quarter cup artisanal honey
• 4 dried pears cut into dice

Directions:

1. Cut and core apples, grease a baking pan with olive oil and lemon juice  and place apples flesh side down
2. Bake for 45 minutes to 60 minutes until tender but not collapsed
3. Remove and allow to cool
4. Place cut side up
5. Dice dried  pears and place in a saucepan with 1 cup water and one half cup honey
6. Simmer for 10 minutes and then strain
7. Place pears into each apple center
8. Place one tablespoon of  Maytag blue cheese on top of pears and place in 425 F oven for 8 minutes until blue cheese melts
9. Serve warm

Love this recipe? Try:

• Lunch Box "Fun"-due
• Pear-Cranberry Cobblers
• Parmesan Yogurt Dip with Carrots
• Pear-Cranberry Cobblers
• Peanut Butter Berry-Wich