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2016 Healthy Lunchtime Challenge sends Maxwell youth to the White House

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Alexa Culbert
  • 42nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Lael Jefferson, 12, and her mother Takeisha pack their bags in preparation for their trip to the White House. However, unlike the thousands of tourists who visit the White House every day, the Jefferson’s are going as invited guests.

This one in a lifetime opportunity came along when Takeisha and Lael decided to put their culinary skills to the test and enter into the 2016 Healthy Lunchtime Challenge, but they had no idea of the adventure that laid ahead of them.

A military youth, Lael, was awarded the 2016 Healthy Lunchtime Challenge winner for the State of Alabama, which saved her a spot at the table at the Kid’s State Dinner hosted at the White House by the First Lady Michelle Obama, July 14, 2016.

The Healthy Lunchtime Challenge is a collaboration between the First Lady and the Public Broadcasting Service to challenge kids ages 8 through 12 to formulate healthy recipes and compete for a chance to attend the Kid’s State Dinner

“It’s truly an honor to be named the 2016 Healthy Lunchtime Challenge winner of Alabama … and to be able to represent the state in the nationwide recipe challenge as a military brat. It is awesome to represent military families like mine in the United States Air Force,” said Lael.

The competitors’ recipes were reviewed by a panel of judges, who then selected three finalists from each state or territory. The selected recipes were chosen based on healthy nutritional value, taste, creativity, originality and affordability. A narrative description of the recipe was also required. The second round had the finalists’ recipes prepared by professional chefs and then judged again following the previous criteria.

Lael’s recipe, a green spinach chicken salad wrap and a fruit salad mixed with honey, stood out above all the rest and was served during the Kid’s State Dinner, along with the chosen dishes of other winners.

Flashback to June 8, the day the Jefferson’s received the big news. Takeisha received an email that read in bold letters, “Do not tell your winning chef.” She read this line several times before the reality of what it meant finally set in.

She said it took everything she had not to scream in excitement, but her and her husband, Master Sgt. Oshawn Jefferson, Air University’s Air Force Center for the Strategic Leadership Communication communications education manager, were under strict instructions to keep the win under wraps until Lael’s initial reaction to the news could be caught on video for later use.

Soon after, the anticipation was too much to handle and the Jefferson’s grabbed a video camera and gathered their children outside for a game. They were asked to demonstrate how they would react to an award announcement, but when it came time for Lael’s turn, the situation was very real.

“She completely freaked out, she was so excited. She was almost in tears screaming, ‘Is this for real!’ said Takeisha. 

A chance to visit the White House and meet the First Lady alone is enough to be excited for, but the Jefferson’s were looking toward future opportunities.

Lael’s father, Oshawn who has deployed six times during his military career, said that it’s clear that eating healthy is not an option to some children and hopes that this challenge will bring awareness to the issue

“It’s not just about the win for us. For many going to the White House, that would be the end of the story, but for us and her, it’s just the beginning,” said Takeisha

Lael fully intends to use her new title as the Alabama Healthy Food Ambassador to its full potential by blogging her experiences throughout the whole process, as well as implementing healthy eating programs throughout the state.

“As the Healthy Food Ambassador, I believe every child deserves the opportunity to eat healthy. Healthy eating is important, but the opportunity is even more important. I am calling on everyone to volunteer, donate, spread awareness and campaign to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and has the opportunity to eat healthy,” said Lael.

For a copy of Lael’s winning recipe click here.