The FSHN Food Contest is divided into four categories, one for each of the majors in the Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition, within the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois.


The contest is only for fall 2026 admitted students. Admitted students submit one contest entry and the entry must be submitted to their admitted major food category. 

On Tuesday, March 26, 2026, four first place scholarship winners, one per major, and four second place scholarship winners, one per major, will be chosen and notified via Facebook, email, and phone number on their application!

The 7th Annual FSHN Food Challenge for admitted freshmen is open!
Each product entry must feature at least one of three flour ingredients provided by Illinois Sustainable Food Project.
• Soft Red Winter Wheat
• Illinois Blue Corn
• White Long Grain Fancy Rice

2026 Categories

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Dietetics & Nutrition - “Tasty Low or No Food”

  • Entries must include a photo, clearly written recipe*, and less than 150-word description of a product meeting ONE of the following criteria: 
    • Low calorie (40 calories or less per serving)
    • Low fat (3 grams or less per serving)
    • Low sodium (140 mg or less per serving)
    • No added sugars (no sugar or sugar-containing ingredient added during the processing or packing of the food).
  • Entries must include a nutrition analysis of the overall recipe highlighting the “low” or “no” section.  The nutrient analysis of the recipe can be completed on any online or app calculator.
  • Entries will be judged for clarity of the recipe, must meet one of the above “low or no” conditions per the provided nutrient analysis of the recipe, and must be perceived as tasty by the judge.
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Food Science - “2 Weeks on the Shelf”

  • Entries must include a photo, clearly written recipe*, and less than 150-word description of the product including your inspiration for creating it and why you believe it will be shelf-stable for two weeks.
  • Entries will be judged for clarity of recipe, uniqueness, and likelihood of remaining edible for two weeks.
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Hospitality Management - “From Plate to Pixel”

  • Entries must include a clearly written recipe*, a well-styled photo of the food created using the recipe, and less than 150-word description explaining how you prepared your food for presentation.
  • Entries will be judged for clarity of recipe (see below) and photo presentation of finished product.
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Nutrition & Health - “Healthy eating on a budget”

  • Entries must include a photo and clearly written recipe* for a food product that is healthy and costs less than $2.60 per serving.  Include a less than 150-word description of product including a discussion of how the product meets the challenge of eating healthy on a budget.
  • The entry must include a nutrient analysis of the recipe, which can be completed on any online or app calculator.
  • Entries will be judged for an engaging description of the food’s significance, clarity of the recipe, and presentation of the finished product.
Title
* A clearly written recipe will include:
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1.            Recipe Title
2.            List of ingredients with quantities
3.            Step-by-step instructions
4.            Number of servings

Congratulations to all the 2025 Food Challenge winners!
#FSHNFoodChallenge
Pink Bliss Beetroot Pasta by Youbin Jun
Pink Bliss Beetroot Pasta by Youbin Jun

Congratulations to Youbin Jun, for entering Pink Bliss Beetroot Pasta in the #FSHNFoodChallenge and being awarded a scholarship in Hospitality Management for the 2025-2026 academic year. The theme for Hospitality Management was “From Plate to Pixel”.

Camryn Reedy, Illini Margherita Pizza, Nutrition & Health
Illini Margherita Pizza by Camryn Reedy

Congratulations to Camryn Reedy, for entering Illini Margherita Pizza in the #FSHNFoodChallenge and being awarded a scholarship in Nutrition & Health for the 2025-2026 academic year. The theme for Human Nutrition was “Healthy Eating on a Budget”.

Champachew Mochi by  Chelsea Stotler
Champachew Mochi by  Chelsea Stotler

Congratulations to Chelsea Stotler, for entering Champachew Mochi in the #FSHNFoodChallenge and being awarded a scholarship in Food Science for the 2025-2026 academic year. The theme for Food Science was “2 Weeks on the Shelf”.

Tasty Avocado and Hummus Quesad-ILL-as  by Anna Tobin
Tasty Avocado and Hummus Quesad-ILL-as  by Anna Tobin

Congratulations to Anna Tobin, for entering Tasty Avocado and Hummus Quesad-ILL-as in the #FSHNFoodChallenge and being awarded a scholarship in Dietetics & Nutrition for the 2025-2026 academic year. The theme for Dietetics & Nutrition was “Tasty No or Low Food”.

Blue Corn Muffins by  Mackenzie Cook
Blue Corn Muffins by  Mackenzie Cook

Congratulations to Mackenzie Cook, for entering Blue Corn Muffins in the #FSHNFoodChallenge and being awarded a scholarship in Dietetics & Nutrition for the 2025-2026 academic year. The theme for Dietetics & Nutrition was “Tasty No or Low Food”.

Mediterranean Flatbreads by  Kohana Degan
Mediterranean Flatbreads by  Kohana Degan

Congratulations to Kohana Degan, for entering Mediterranean Flatbreads in the #FSHNFoodChallenge and being awarded a scholarship in Dietetics & Nutrition for the 2025-2026 academic year. The theme for Dietetics & Nutrition was “Tasty No or Low Food”.

Blueberry Shortcake with Blue Ice Cream by Caroline Delaney
Blueberry Shortcake with Blue Ice Cream by Caroline Delaney

Congratulations to Caroline Delaney, for entering Blueberry Shortcake with Blue Ice Cream in the #FSHNFoodChallenge and being awarded a scholarship in Dietetics & Nutrition for the 2025-2026 academic year. The theme for Dietetics & Nutrition was “Tasty No or Low Food”.

Illinois Blue Corn Granola by Ava Finger
Illinois Blue Corn Granola by Ava Finger

Congratulations to Ava Finger, for entering Illinois Blue Corn Granola in the #FSHNFoodChallenge and being awarded a scholarship in Food Science for the 2025-2026 academic year. The theme for Food Science was “2 Weeks on the Shelf”.

Low-fat Rice Flour Crepes by Georgia Hange
Low-fat Rice Flour Crepes by Georgia Hange

Congratulations to Georgia Hange, for entering Low-fat Rice Flour Crepes in the #FSHNFoodChallenge and being awarded a scholarship in Dietetics & Nutrition for the 2025-2026 academic year. The theme for Dietetics & Nutrition was “Tasty No or Low Food”.

Alexi's Veggie Dumplings by Alexi Hernandez
Alexi's Veggie Dumplings by Alexi Hernandez

Congratulations to Alexi Hernandez, for entering Alexi's Veggie Dumplings in the #FSHNFoodChallenge and being awarded a scholarship in Dietetics & Nutrition for the 2025-2026 academic year. The theme for Dietetics & Nutrition was “Tasty No or Low Food”.

Chocolate-covered Strawberry Shortbread Cookies by  Lucas Nelson
Chocolate-covered Strawberry Shortbread Cookies by  Lucas Nelson

Congratulations to Lucas Nelson, for entering Chocolate-covered Strawberry Shortbread Cookies in the #FSHNFoodChallenge and being awarded a scholarship in Food Science for the 2025-2026 academic year. The theme for Food Science was “2 Weeks on the Shelf”.

Strawberry Cake Donuts by  Gloria Okeke
Strawberry Cake Donuts by  Gloria Okeke

Congratulations to Gloria Okeke, for entering Strawberry Cake Donuts in the #FSHNFoodChallenge and being awarded a scholarship in Food Science for the 2025-2026 academic year. The theme for Food Science was “2 Weeks on the Shelf”.

Hearty Harvest Bean Soup by Julia Robinson
Hearty Harvest Bean Soup by Julia Robinson

Congratulations to Julia Robinson, for entering Hearty Harvest Bean Soup in the #FSHNFoodChallenge and being awarded a scholarship in Nutrition & Health for the 2025-2026 academic year. The theme for Nutrition & Health was “Healthy Eating on a Budget”.

Cinnamon Sugar Wheat Pretzel Bites by Victoria Wueste
Cinnamon Sugar Wheat Pretzel Bites by Victoria Wueste

Congratulations to Victoria Wueste, for entering Cinnamon Sugar Wheat Pretzel Bites in the #FSHNFoodChallenge and being awarded a scholarship in Dietetics & Nutrition for the 2025-2026 academic year. The theme for Dietetics & Nutrition was “Tasty No or Low Food”.