Young chefs looking to prove their skills in the kitchen are invited to participate in this year’s Sodexo Future Chef National Challenge.

In its seventh year, the annual national challenge asks students to come up with a recipe that is not only kid friendly but also nutritious. The theme this year is healthy comfort food.

Last year’s national winner was fourth-grader Madysun Christensen from Salt Lake City, Utah. In 2015 third-grader Elle Medel from Willow Glen Elementary School in San Jose won the national challenge for her apple nachos recipe.

Last year, the Moreland School District held a competition for its six elementary schools. Third-grader Elle Seguin from Payne Elementary went on to the regional competition with her version of a flourless potato waffle with bacon, cheese and onions.

Last year’s district competition saw a celebrity guest judge, Alexis Higgins, a Gilroy resident who competed on the third season of “Master Chef Junior.”

Winning students from school district competitions will be considered as regional finalists. Selected regional finalists will vie to become one of five national finalists, who will then make a video of how to prepare their recipe in hopes of garnering more most votes from the public.

Entry forms can be picked up in school cafeterias. Recipe entries are due Feb. 17 in the Moreland School District. The district will hold its competition March 22.