Obama meets student chefs, hypes 'Barack-amole'

Student chefs got a treat Friday when President Obama dropped by the fourth annual Kid's State Dinner, a ceremony dedication to celebrating healthy eating, at the White House.

It sounded like he ducked in to try the dip. "I'm expecting people to save me a little sampling of the Barack-amole," Obama told the 55 kids, ages 8 to 12.

First Lady Michelle Obama honored the students and their families for creating the best original recipes.

"You had many hurdles to overcome," Mrs. Obama said. "It had to be healthy, tasty, and good to eat, and you did it!"

Judges tasted nearly 1,000 recipes entered in 2015 Healthy Lunchtime Challenge, and ultimately chose one winning chef per state, territory and Washington D.C. The chefs impressed the judges with recipes including fresh and sophisticated ingredients, like flax seed and cumin, the first lady noted.

The luncheon featured a number of the winning dishes, including President Obama's personal favorites, both the Mic-Kale Obama Slaw and Barack-amole.

The Healthy Lunchtime Challenge was created as a part of Michelle Obama's healthy living campaign "Let's Move", now in its fifth year of existence, in an effort to encourage kids to eat better meals.

"You guys are setting a great example for all your friends," President Obama told the crowd. "I'm proud of you."

When it comes to getting kids to eat healthy, "it turns out that parents don't always have the most influence", he said.

While President Obama said he could not stop and take selfies with everyone, he did meet and greet briefly with all of the winning chefs.

Recipes were as diverse as the backgrounds of the students who created them, ranging from a desire to eat healthy in order to compete in sports, to reliving cultural culinary memories. Michelle Obama recalled the story of one boy who made a chicken wrap because it reminded him of being bundled up by his dad in a blanket when he was younger.

Others were inspired to teach their friends how to eat healthier, a message both Obamas can get behind.

"Sometimes (kids) don't listen to grown-ups, and they don't listen to the first lady," she explained to the sea of small chefs. "But many of them will listen to you because you're living proof of that reality."