Frequently asked questions

How much of the food used needs to be Fresh from Florida? 

Students are not judged on the number of Florida commodities used in their recipe submission, however, at least one Florida-grown food must be incorporated into the meal for the submission to be considered. Explore Florida commodities, including herbs, produce, proteins, and more.

What does it mean to “recreate" or "elevate” a school meal?

We invite students to create a meal inspired by a Florida school meal — one that is or could be served in a school cafeteria — and make it their own.

Each submission should reflect a nutritionally balanced school meal by featuring at least three of the five required Meal Pattern components:

Protein
Grain
Veggie
Fruits
Dairy or dairy alternatives

How students bring those elements together is up to them, allowing plenty of room for creativity and personal style.

Can a contestant get help from their parents, or does it have to be their own work from start to finish?  

We prefer that contestants do their own work, though we do understand that parents may need to assist or chaperone for the contestant’s safety. 

Can students prepare more than one dish but put them onto one platter, as part of a meal/serving that they would normally present to eat?  

To keep judging clear and consistent, students should prepare and present one complete meal rather than multiple dishes combined on a platter.

Does the meal have to be created originally by the student, or can it be based on a recipe from a cookbook or family recipe?  

Meals may be inspired by a family recipe, cookbook, or existing dish. What matters most is how the student elevates the meal using Florida ingredients and their own creativity, while meeting at least three of the school meal component guidelines.

Is there a time limit for the video? 

Video submissions must be between 2 and 5 minutes long to be considered.

Can my child make any kind of meal? Or does it need to be something typically served at lunch?  

While the meal should be inspired by a school meal, it does not have to be a lunch entrée. Breakfast style meals are welcome.

Should the video be professional and edited or will a simple home video be sufficient?  

A simple home video is great, as long as the student meets the following requirements in the video:

Be 2–5 minutes in length
Include the student introducing themselves and their recipe, including a brief explanation of what inspired the dish
Show the student preparing their recipe, highlighting key steps from start to finish, and include a clear view of the final plated meal
Feature a recipe that elevates a school meal bringing together at least 3 components inspired by federal school meal nutrition standards, and a quick mention of which components are included. These include:

Fruit
Vegetables
Grains
Protein
Dairy or dairy alternatives

Incorporate at least one Fresh From Florida ingredient, such as Florida-grown produce or proteins, into the dish, and explain how it is included

What if a Florida ingredient is out of season?

That’s okay! If an ingredient is normally grown in Florida but isn’t available at the time of preparation, students may use that ingredient from the grocery store. The key is choosing foods that are grown in Florida at some point throughout the year. For example, we know that contestants might not be able to get Florida broccoli in the spring/summer, but they can still make something with broccoli.

What do I do if we accidentally filled out the application and submitted it without the video?  

Multiple video submissions will not be accepted. We will only review the first submission. However, if a submission is made without a video, it will be considered invalid and we will review a second submission with the video included.