WASHINGTON, DC – Caroline Cowart, a 12-year-old from Cranston, is cooking her way to the first ever “Kids’ State Dinner” at the White House, which will be hosted next week by First Lady Michelle Obama.

Caroline’s healthy recipe for a Broccoli and Cheese Egg White Omelet is one of 54 winners selected from more than 1,200 participants nationwide who created nutritious lunchtime meals using each of the five food groups.

In May, the White House invited children between the ages of 8 and 12 and their parents to submit an original recipe for a nutritious, delicious lunch to the national Healthy Lunchtime Challenge, a contest organized by the First Lady’s “Let’s Move!” health initiative, the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Epicurious.com. 

U.S. Senator Jack Reed encouraged Rhode Island “junior chefs” to participate and his press release was passed along to Caroline’s mom, Jennifer L. Cowart, who writes the blog: thewholebagofchips.com by her editor at the Cranston Herald.

“Congratulations to Caroline and her mom for creating a tasty, nutritious recipe and winning this healthy challenge,” said Reed.  “I hope all the kids who participated had fun cooking and sharing recipes for good food and healthy habits.”

"When I found out I won, I was surprised and amazed all at the same time.  From this contest I have learned to always take a risk because I almost didn't enter, and look where I am now.  In a few days I am meeting the First Lady and I am really looking forward to it," said Caroline, who is going into the 7th grade at Western Hills Middle School.

"I'm so proud of Caroline for entering this contest," said her mom, Jennifer L. Cowart.  "She's always working hard to make healthy choices and the recipe that she created really shows that.  We can't wait for our trip to Washington DC where we'll be touring the newly revamped Julia Childs' Kitchen exhibit at the Smithsonian, taking a mini tour of DC, and of course, meeting Michelle Obama at the Kids' State Dinner."

A national panel of judges that included White House Assistant Chef Sam Kass, restaurateur José Andrés, Epicurious Editor-in-Chief Tanya Steel, and representatives from the USDA and Department of Education, selected one winner from each state, as well as from the District of Columbia and several U.S. territories.

Caroline's recipe won her and her mom a free trip to Washington, DC where she will join winners from other states on August 20th at a Kids' State Dinner with the First Lady, who will show them around the White House and give them a tour of the vegetable garden.  A free ebook with all of the recipes will be released in the coming weeks.