National Restaurant Association Launches Second Annual Kids LiveWell Recipe Challenge

Contest in partnership with McCormick For Chefs and Healthy Dining highlights foodservice industry's commitment to providing healthful meals for children – Winners recognized at NRA Show 2014 in Chicago

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Restaurant Association (NRA) is now accepting submissions for its second annual Kids LiveWell Recipe Challenge, an initiative aimed at showcasing restaurant and foodservice companies' culinary ingenuity of creating healthful options for children.

Sponsored by founding partner McCormick For Chefs®, the Food Away From Home Division of McCormick & Company, and Healthy Dining's team of registered dietitians, the Challenge takes an "industry tested, kid approved" approach with a panel of food and nutrition professionals selecting finalists and elementary school students choosing the winners.

"We received a tremendous response for the inaugural year of the Kids LiveWell Recipe Challenge," said Joan McGlockton, vice president of industry affairs and food policy for the National Restaurant Association. "This contest is a great way for restaurant and foodservice companies of all sizes to receive recognition for their important efforts in kids' nutrition. As this top trend in the restaurant industry continues to grow, we are looking forward to building on last year's success."

Megan Ford, vice president, sales and marketing US Industrial Group, McCormick & Company noted, "Actively supporting the Kids LiveWell Recipe Challenge again with the NRA is fully in line with our company's commitment of 'Inspiring Healthy Choices.' This contest reflects an important industry movement and dovetails perfectly with our desire to celebrate foodservice professionals who are passionate about creating healthful and flavorful menu choices for kids."

To participate in the Kids LiveWell Recipe Challenge, restaurant and foodservice operators should submit one or more recipes from their children's menus that meet the nutrition criteria from Kids LiveWell, which are based on the USDA dietary guidelines. Operators/chefs may participate in four categories: Independent restaurant or company with fewer than 20 units; Multi-unit company with more than 20 units; Contract Managed Food Service; and Independent Noncommercial Food Service.

The deadline to submit recipes is December 15, 2013. The winners will be recognized at the 2014 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show (May 17-20, 2014 in Chicago).

The Challenge is a complement to the Kids LiveWell program, which the NRA launched in collaboration with Healthy Dining to help parents and children find healthful menu options when dining out. To date, more than 140 brands representing over 41,000 restaurant locations nationwide are participating in Kids LiveWell.

"Food preferences are established at a young age and continue to expand as children grow, so the restaurant industry is playing an important role in developing new enticing Kids LiveWell recipes and menu choices that ultimately contribute to a healthier generation of kids," said Anita Jones-Mueller, MPH, president of Healthy Dining. "It is exciting to see the number and variety of Kids LiveWell choices continue to grow on HealthyDiningFinder.com."

For details on submitting recipes, nutrition criteria and contest rules, visit Restaurant.org/Recipe.

About National Restaurant Association

Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises 980,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of more than 13 million employees. We represent the industry in Washington, D.C., and advocate on its behalf. We operate the industry's largest trade show (NRA Show May 17-20, 2014, in Chicago); leading food safety training and certification program (ServSafe); unique career-building high school program (the NRAEF's ProStart); as well as the Kids LiveWell program promoting healthful kids' menu options. For more information, visit www.restaurant.org and find us on Twitter @WeRRestaurants, Facebook and YouTube.

About McCormick & Company

McCormick & Company, Incorporated is a global leader in flavor.  With more than $4 billion in annual sales, the company manufactures, markets and distributes spices, seasoning mixes, condiments and other flavorful products to the entire food industry – retail outlets, food manufacturers and foodservice businesses. McCormick For Chefs^®—McCormick's Food Away From Home business—provides unrivaled solutions to meet the distinct needs of professional foodservice with its McCormick Culinary™, Lawry's®, OLD BAY®, Thai Kitchen® and Zatarain's® products. Chefs and operators can be confident that McCormick brings more sensory science experience, product innovation and flavor expertise for quality taste experiences. McCormick Brings Passion to Flavor™. For recipe ideas, visit www.McCormickForChefs.com. Also, follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mccormickforchefs or find us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/McCormick4Chefs.

About Healthy Dining

Healthy Dining is actively contributing to a healthier America – in a delicious way, every day. The team is comprised of registered dietitians, PhD and masters level health experts, digital strategists and communication professionals. Healthy Dining is a partner to restaurants of all sizes looking to meet their guests' varying nutrition needs. HealthyDiningFinder.com provides Americans with the only search engine of its kind featuring dietitian-recommended Healthy Dining and Kids LiveWell choices served at participating restaurants coast to coast. Healthy Dining's additional areas of expertise include nutrient analysis, menu labeling compliance, gluten and allergen identification and healthier preparation methods.

SOURCE National Restaurant Association