LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The school food service directors of Lake County have been making leaps and bounds in making the meals they serve to children healthy and locally sourced.

They use the program Farm to School to connect with local farmers and get their products into your child’s meals.

The Kids Cook Off was designed in order to actively involve students in the kitchen by requiring them to develop recipes that met USDA guidelines for the National School Lunch Program.

Kelseyville Unified School District, Konocti Unified School District and Lakeport Unified School District participated in the event on Feb. 26 at Lower Lake High School.

They battled for an hour over hot stoves and cutting boards to create a healthy pasta dish. An expert panel of judges evaluated each dish and determined Kelseyville Unified School District’s team of sixth to eighth graders to be the winner with their spaghetti confetti recipe.

This recipe is currently featured at TJ’s Bar and Grill in Lakeport for the month of March as well as Aroma’s Restaurant on March 12 and 13.

The food service directors congratulate the schools of Lake County in all of their success.

The Kids Cook Off was created by Lindsey Danner and Olivia Kosten, Golden Gate Dietetic Interns, as part of a collaborative project with the Health Leadership Network to reduce chronic disease by increasing access to nutritious foods, increasing physical activity, reducing smoking and promoting emotional well-being.

It is funded by a grant by the Centers for Disease Control awarded to St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake.