Walk On! Kids Cooking Challenge

The Walk On! Kids Cooking Challenge is a recipe contest for kids ages 9-12 living anywhere in Arizona. Recipes must be original and submitted by a parent no later than Wednesday, January 23, 2019.

All recipe entries will be reviewed considering the following criteria: originality, potential tastiness, use of healthy ingredients, creativity and ease of preparation.

For a child’s recipe to be considered, the follow must apply:
1. Is an original recipe for a hot or cold side dish
2. Includes at least one or more fruit and/or vegetable
3. Can be cooked on a stove top, in an oven or in a microwave
4. Can be cooked within 20 minutes (not including prep time)

A panel of judges including a registered dietician will review entries and select 10 qualifiers from applications received statewide. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona staff members will then conduct phone interviews with these 10 qualifiers to determine the final five finalists. Finalists will be invited to prepare their recipes and bring them to a filming on Jan. 30, in the late afternoon/early evening at Talking Stick Resort Arena in downtown Phoenix, where they will be interviewed on camera about their recipes, why they entered the contest, why their recipe should win and why anyone should vote for their recipe. Finalists are also invited to a Phoenix Suns game Monday, February 4, at Talking Stick Resort Arena in downtown Phoenix. The recipes will be judged in three categories: 1. Nutrition which will be determined by BCBSAZ nutrition judge with a score of 25 points possible; Taste which will be determined by 100 attendees at the February 4 Phoenix Suns game who will be offered a chance to taste each recipe, also giving 25 points to award; Social, which is 50 points. The social points will be determined by which place each contestant falls in the voting, awarding 50 points to first place, 40 to second, 30 to third, 20 to fourth and 10 to fifth. The first two categories will be judged on the day of the event. The third category is derived from online posting of contestant interviews on video. These videos will be posted online in February during a designated date range, and the public will be invited to vote for their favorite dish. Voting is only available online through the website address provided.

The grand-prize winner will be announced on or about Feb. 16, 2019. There will be only one grand prize winner. Please note: if your child is selected as a finalist, we may ask them to participate in potential TV and newspaper interviews, as well as photo opportunities. The grand prize winner will be asked to participate in media interviews as well. Although anyone can enter the contest, preferential treatment will not be given to children of members of Blue Cross Blue Shield Arizona or children of employees of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. Walk On! Challenge participants are encouraged to enter, but it does not guarantee any position as finalist in the contest.

Anyone agreeing to become a finalist in the contest agrees to travel to downtown Phoenix, on Jan. 30 and Feb. 4, for filming and an event. All recipes submitted become the property of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. Participants are also agreeing to use of content provided by contestants in promotional materials including website materials, news releases, social media, newspaper articles or any other materials available to the public. It's expected that parents would be involved in recipe development, but contestants must be able to explain the recipe and prepare it with limited parent help.

Voting will be done through an online application at www.walkonaz.com. The period of voting is Feb. 5 through Feb. 16. Voting terms are pending. Sharing contest voting link is encouraged.