Sussex pupils urged to take part in school dinner competition

The contest is looking for pupils to create a lunchtime dish with the winning meal being offered in primary schools next year. It has been launched as part of this year's Sussex Day festival, taking place on 16 June, which encourages people to celebrate the county's heritage. There are two categories for school pupils to enter: one for five to seven-year-olds and another for children aged between eight and eleven. They have to design and cook the dish, take a photo and think of a name for it before sending off an entry form. The competition is being run by the County Council with its catering company Chartwells – which provides hot meals to West Sussex primary schools. Tracie Taylor, who works for Chartwells, said: "This competition is an excellent way of showing children what goes into healthy balanced meals. "The dishes must contain all of the food groups from our Eat Well Plate - including protein, carbohydrate, fruit and vegetables as well as milk and dairy. "The meals can only contain small amounts of fat and sugar and have no fried ingredients." There are two categories for school pupils to enter: one for five to seven-year-olds and another for children aged between eight and eleven. They have to design and cook the dish, take a photo and think of a name for it before sending off an entry form. The winners will have their meals reproduced by professional Chartwells chefs and be offered on the caterer's lunchtime menu next year. They will also get a family day out at the Weald and Downland Museum and an iPod shuffle. The closing date for entries is Friday 26 August.