HEALTHY food was the name of the game when catering students battled it out to produce a healthy menu for young people.

A shortlist of five students studying at Colchester Institute were chosen from almost 300 full and part-time students who were invited to take up a gauntlet thrown down by the public health team at NHS North East Essex.

From those submitted, the best five were invited to a “cook-off” at the institute, where a panel of tasters sampled their dishes.

Each of the finalists came up with five different dishes, but chose one to prepare and serve up on the night.

Taking the heat in the kitchen on the night were Lauren Capp, Jenny Wilding, Danni Smith, Joanne Brewer and Richard Mitchell. The dishes they served up included a pea and mint soup, butternut squash and rocket risotto and chicken stir fry with braised rice.

The winning dish was by Richard Mitchell, who came up with an open vegetable lasagne and healthy fish and chips, which judges said were “delicious”.

Richard’s winning menu, including those he did not cook on the night, will be professionally printed on laminated cards and distributed by NHS North East Essex.

Youth clubs, schools and Scout and Guide groups, will all be given copies of the menu.

Chris French, senior public health specialist at NHS North East Essex, said: “We were incredibly impressed with the standard of the dishes. It has been such a success we will be making this an annual competition. We are very hopeful the dishes created will help play their part in helping young people to opt for a healthier diet.”

Stephanie Conway, a lecturer at Colchester Institute, added: “Designing nutritious dishes is very much part of our students’ course-work so this will benefit everybody.”