Washington ( CNN ) -- President Barack Obama made a surprise appearance at Tuesday 's kids ' `` state dinner '' at the White House , an event thrown by the the first lady to welcome the winners of the second annual Healthy Lunchtime Challenge . `` Usually , at a state dinner , I get invited , so I do n't know what happened on this one , '' the president joked . `` I hear the food is pretty good . '' Obama went around to each table to congratulate the kids before leaving to get back to official business . `` This is what it 's like to be a part of an official state dinner , '' Michelle Obama told the children and their parents gathered in the East Room . `` We mirrored it exactly to what people experience when we host world leaders here . '' The kids , ranging in age from 8 to 12 , even got to experience an arrival ceremony in which they were officially announced as they made their way through the booksellers ' entrance of the White House . The Healthy Lunchtime Challenge is a recipe contest for kids across the country , launched in 2012 by Epicurious -- a website about food -- to promote healthy eating for children in the United States . It is part of first lady Michelle Obama 's Let 's Move initiative , a program developed to `` solve the epidemic of childhood obesity within a generation , '' according to the program 's website . Last week , the White House Epicurious , and the departments of Education and Agriculture announced 54 winners from more than 1,300 entries . One winner was chosen from each of the 50 states , plus three territories and the District of Columbia . Each recipe had to meet the USDA 's healthy meal criteria and had to represent each of the five food groups . Fruits and vegetables were required to be part of at least half of the recipe . `` We have seen that when kids like all of you get involved in creating your own healthy meals , the results can really be amazing and delicious and fun , '' Michelle Obama told the young chefs . `` You 'll come up with ideas that none of us grownups ever thought of . '' Winning recipes included Picky Eater Pita Pizza Pockets , made by 8-year-old Jacob Hirsch from West Bloomfield , Michigan , and Bring it on , Brussels Sprout Wrap ! by 9-year-old Corbin Jackson from Mount Pleasant , South Carolina . Tuesday 's event featured some of the winning recipes , many of which are considered finger food . `` Using your fingers is completely fine here . ... The first lady has said that it is OK ! '' Michelle Obama exclaimed . The president took mock offense at his wife 's comment . `` Michelle never said to me I can just pick up something with my fingers at a state dinner . That 's not fair ! '' he joked . Amber Kelley traveled to the White House from Woodinville , Washington , for the special event . The 10-year-old won for her Nummy No-Noodle Lasagna recipe and got to sit next to Michelle Obama during lunch . Amber explained the big secret to her winning recipe : `` Instead of putting in the noodles , you put in really thinly sliced zucchini . It tastes really good . Some people told me that you can barely tell . '' Amber 's mother , Yohko , was `` thrilled '' about her daughter 's win and the visit to the White House . `` She 's kind of been dedicating herself to healthy cooking for a while now , and this is the big crescendo at the end , '' she said . After lunch , recipe winners were treated to a performance by 15-year-old singer Rachel Crow before getting a tour of the White House kitchen garden . A complete list of winners and their recipes can be found here .
Obama makes surprise appearance at lunch for healthy eating contest day . Obama made the rounds of the room , greeting young guests and their families . The Food Challenge is recipe contest and part of first Tuesday 's Let 's Eat Weekend . Tuesday 's menu featured many of the winning recipes .