The Falls Church City Public School department is hosting its first annual Junior Chef Contest, sponsored by FCCPS, Williams-Sonoma and Arlington County Public Schools (ACPS).

The contest is open to FCCPS students between the ages of 9 – 18 and is an opportunity for children to test their creativity and discover their culinary skills.

Richard Kane, director of food services for FCCPS, is starting the contest to encourage and develop children’s knowledge of food preparation and healthy eating habits.

Participants are challenged to come up with an original recipe that incorporates U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrition guidance, particularly the ways in which the recipe can include fruits and vegetables.

Participants must submit their recipes with a brief essay about the recipe, an ingredient list, step-by-step instructions for preparation, the number of servings the dish will yield and a photo of the dish for entry into the contest.

There’s a limit of one entry per e-mail address and all entries must be submitted to jrchefcompetition@gmail.com by Sept. 20. For more information, visit fccps.org.