Posted by Nicole Medina, Florida on July 8, 2013
"I came up with this recipe after I found out my cholesterol levels were high. I started to eat healthier and salmon is one of the foods that help lower my cholesterol," says Nicole. "Since I live in Florida and orange is our state fruit, my aunt helped me create this dish using orange in the salmon sauce. I love to cook with my aunt and uncle.
Posted by Eleanor Cowell, Hawaii on July 8, 2013
"I had lunch with my mom at California Pizza Kitchen, and we ordered a Moroccan Chicken Salad. I loved the curry-spiced chicken and the fresh, crisp greens. Later that night I was inspired to create this recipe," says Eleanor. "I wanted to include lots of fruits and veggies, too, because they're good for you, and sometimes sweeter tha candy.
Posted by Taddy Pettit, Illinois on July 8, 2013
"We chose this recipe because the children love bean burritos!" says Taddy's dad, Ryan. "This version is fun for them to build their wraps from the fresh vegetables we grow in our garden. The beans and quinoa are high in nutrients and protein, and there is a nice balance with the yogurt for dessert." Taddy likes to serve it with a nonfat Greek-style yogurt parfait that stars fresh pineapple and strawberries.
Posted by Goldie Siegel, New Jersey on July 8, 2013
“My family has to be creative when it comes to preparing tasty and healthy food. I have celiac disease, and one of my sisters is allergic to eggs, dairy, nuts, and more!” says Goldie. “I wanted to make a dish that used ingredients from Hawaii because the President was born there and the Obamas like to visit there. My dad doesn’t like red meat, so we use ground turkey instead.
Posted by Peter Murphy, New York on July 8, 2013
“We live on Long Island, and when Hurricane Sandy struck, we were without power for 15 days,” reports Peter’s mom, Jill. “The grocery stores had no produce, dairy, or meat, but it was harvest time at our local farmstand, so there was plenty of fresh produce available there. We filled a wagon with fresh produce, added some pantry staples, and came up with this soup, which we could cook on our gas stovetop.
Posted by Charli McQuillan, North Dakota on July 8, 2013
“Charli fell in love with a sweet and sour meatball recipe,” said mom Heidi Lynn. “But it was lacking in vegetables and the meatballs were frozen, and not something I wanted to serve my kids. This challenge was the perfect thing for us, as it pushed me to find a better option. In doing so, I realized how much fun we have cooking together and how quickly you can make a meal with a helper!
Posted by Genzo Gonzales, Northern Mariana Islands on July 8, 2013
“I wanted to feature locally grown produce that is abundant most everywhere in my island’s villages, but more importantly is healthy and affordable,” writes Genzo. “Our parents always remind us to eat the seasonal fruits and vegetables around us because they are locally grown naturally and are healthy and free from preservatives and chemicals. I would serve along with it a fresh and tropical coconut-avocado shake.
Posted by Corbin Jackson, South Carolina on July 8, 2013
“I have been on a Brussels sprout kick lately so that is the first thing I thought of. And I knew that Brussels sprouts were healthy, so I picked that,” says Corbin about his recipe. He recommends combining 2/3 cup of kefir with 1/3 cup pomegranate juice for a delicious drink to accompany the wrap. - Corbin Jackson, age 9, South Carolina
Posted by Anisha Patel, Ohio on July 8, 2013
“I came up with this recipe by watching my mom cook a lot of healthy vegetarian dishes that had a little kick to them with some spice,” says Anisha. “I love eating lots of different types of fresh vegetables and fruits. For vegetarians my dish can be served with a garden salad and any nice fresh fruit.
Posted by Joshua Garrigues, Montana on July 8, 2013
"One night at dinner we had leftover quinoa and a garden full of vegetables and came up with this dinner. I liked it so much that I wanted the leftovers in my lunch the next day and even requested it for my birthday dinner," says Joshua. "I would serve orange slices with mango Greek yogurt to have all the food groups represented from ChooseMyPlate." - Joshua Garrigues, age 8, Montana
