Monterey County young journalists: write about food, win a prize

Enter the first "Healthy and Sustainable School Food Journalism Awards."

Students ages 13 to 18 from all over the country have until Feb. 28 to enter a story about their cafeteria food in an attempt to create a healthy food movement in schools.

“High school journalism classes and school newspapers are the incubators for tomorrow’s great journalists," Michael Pollan, the contest’s judge and food writer said in a statement. “This contest is designed to help those young thought leaders hone their investigative journalism skills and get their peers engaged on a critical issue affecting their own well-being and that of the environment.”

To enter the contest, students need to submit articles that focus on the benefits of healthy and sustainable school food, and what schools are doing to promote healthy eating habits.

The winner will receive $1,500. Second prize will be $1,000. Third prize will be $500, and three fourth prize winners will each receive $300. Teachers supervising the winners will receive a prize of $200.

Winners will be announced on or around Earth Day, April 22, 2013.

To learn more about the Healthy and Sustainable School Food Journalism Awards, click here.