Uncle Ben's Launches Fourth-Annual Ben's Beginners Kids Cooking ContestUncle Ben's Launches Fourth-Annual Ben's Beginners Kids Cooking Contest

The Uncle Ben's brand, a U.S.-based rice brand, has launched its annual Ben's Beginners Cooking Contest. Now in its fourth year, Ben's Beginners is designed to make the kitchen a welcoming place for the entire family by encouraging parents and kids to cook together. U.S. parents with children in grades Kindergarten through eighth grade can submit a three-minute home video of their family preparing a rice-based dish while discussing their experience cooking together. "Learning to cook is a crucial life skill that helps build healthy eating habits kids can carry with them for life," says Lara McCauley, vice president of corporate affairs, Mars Food North America, the parent company of the Uncle Ben's Brand. "This year, we want to continue to encourage families to cook together and also offer tips and innovative ways to make kitchens more kid-friendly for our young chefs." To launch this year's contest, the Uncle Ben's brand is creating the ultimate kid-friendly "Dream Kitchen" and enlisted the help of experts: kids themselves. On Sept. 25 in New York City, the brand will celebrate the Ben's Beginners Cooking Contest by incorporating "Dream Kitchen" ideas submitted by children in Kindergarten through eighth grade from across the United States. In addition to this one-of-a-kind kitchen, the brand will help parents with tips and tricks on how to invite their kids into the kitchen to cook with them. These tips will also be shared on unclebens.com, along with more information about the Ben's Beginners Cooking Contest, kid-friendly recipe ideas and cooking tips, and the official contest rules. Participants in the Ben's Beginners Cooking Contest will vie for the chance to win one of five grand prize packages which includes $15,000 cash, a $30,000 cafeteria makeover for their child's school and a hometown celebration. Submissions will be accepted on unclebens.com through Oct. 12. The contest is part of the influential Ben's Beginners movement to encourage parents and kids to spend time in the kitchen cooking healthy meals. Ben's Beginners has helped bring the importance of family meal times and its positive effect on children to the forefront nationwide. The fourth annual Ben's Beginners Cooking Contest offers an exciting way for parents and kids to make lifelong memories in the kitchen as they cook for the chance to better their community and school with a single dish.