Community members can compete to create the perfect school lunch that could be served in local cafeterias for the Ideal Real Meal Contest, which closes Monday, Feb. 11.

The contest, put on by the Whatcom Farm-to-School Program, along with Sustainable Connections and the Whatcom Community Foundation, calls on people to create a cafeteria meal using locally sourced winter foods.

Anyone can enter. Finalists will be selected based on creative use of local ingredients, adherence to MyPlate nutrition guidelines, and feasibility to produce the meal in a school cafeteria kitchen. In the second round, finalists will have their recipes prepared in a school kitchen, with meals judged on taste and ease of preparation.

Winning meals will be featured in various Whatcom County schools, and prizes include cash, gift certificates and cooking supplies.

More information about the contest and entry forms are available online at whatcomfarmtoschool.org.

Reach ZOE FRALEY at zoe.fraley@bellinghamherald.com or call 756-2803.