Michelle Obama cheers recipe winners at 'kids state dinner'

First lady Michelle Obama talks with Illana Gonzalez-Evans, from Washington, during the Kids' 'State Dinner,' Monday in the East Room of the White House.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

First lady Michelle Obama talks with Illana Gonzalez-Evans, from Washington, during the Kids' 'State Dinner,' Monday in the East Room of the White House.

WASHINGTON — At the first ever White House "kids state dinner," first lady Michelle Obama told America's top junior chefs Monday that the dishes they cooked up are proving that fun eating can be "healthy and tasty at the same time."

"Your recipes truly stood out," she said to an East Room filled with kids who won a nationwide recipe competition. "You came up with dishes that were packed with nutritious, delicious ingredients — dishes that are good for you but more importantly they taste good, too. See? It can happen."

The event was the latest effort in Mrs. Obama's "Let's Move" campaign to combat childhood obesity with more exercise and a better diet.

As the kids dined on fine Reagan-era China, Mrs. Obama listed some of the winning entries, calling them "amazing stuff": Kickin' Chicken Salad, Power Pesto Pasta, Miss Kitty's Egg Salad Sensation and Secret Service Super Salad, dreamed up by one youngster who hopes one day to join the presidential protective detail.

The 54 winners, ages 8 through 12, were chosen from more than 1,200 entries.

President Barack Obama shakes hands during the Kids' 'State Dinner,' hosted by first lady Michelle Obama.

"I was just experimenting and being creative," said Haile Thomas, 11, of Tucson, Ariz., whose original recipe of quinoa, black bean and corn salad was one of six winning entries cooked up by White House chefs at the luncheon. "I never thought my recipe would go national."

Thomas, who's been cooking since age 5, hopes one day her YouTube cooking show will make it on commercial TV.

Other kid-inspired dishes on the festive East Room tables: kale chips, cabbage Sloppy Joes, baked zucchini fries, "strawberryana" smoothies and "summer fruit garland." Mrs. Obama called the luncheon the "hottest ticket at the White House."

"You guys inspire us here at the White House to keep doing what we do and keep this message at the forefront," she said about her Let's Move initiative.

President Barack Obama also dropped by to applaud the winners and thank them for "spreading the word about healthy eating."

"Usually, I get invited to state dinners," he said. "This time I had to crash."

"I'm an OK cook," Obama added. "I make a very good chili."

He also warned the youngsters not to drop any table scraps because first dog Bo is on a diet.

The children, who got to bring a parent or grandparent to the White House, were also being treated to a performance by Nickelodeon stars Big Time Rush and a tour of the White House kitchen garden.

The contest is a partnership with Epicurious.com and the departments of Education and Agriculture. It also supports the campaign against childhood obesity.