Lunch Time Legends

Q: Does my school need to register?

Yes. Register between September 28 and October 2 so we know your school is participating and can send your reminder when the drawing window opens.

Q: Who submits the drawings?

Front office staff collect the finished drawings from teachers and hand them to the Nutrition One driver on their next scheduled route. No photographing or uploading needed.

Q: Can a student enter more than once?

No. Each student may submit one drawing.

Q: Our school has fall break during the window. Is that okay?

Yes. The drawing window runs two full weeks, October 12 to 23, so students can submit any day their school is in session.

Q: What if our delivery driver does not run every day?

Check your school’s regular delivery schedule. If your driver does not come on the last day of the drawing window, collect all drawings a day early so they are ready for pickup.

Q: How will winners be notified?

We will contact winning schools directly and announce winners on Friday, October 30.

National School Lunch Week: OCT 12-16, 2026

An NSLP participation challenge by Nutrition One. Students draw a their dream lunch, but the catch is that it needs to be a balanced meal. Submissions are scored on creativity and have a chance to win prizes like a new bike, air-pods, gift cards, and more.

Timeline

Fall break lands during the National School Lunch Week (NSLW) and the submission window.

Sept 28 to Oct 2

School Registration

Admins register their school and share this page with teachers.

Oct 5 to 9

Promo Week

Get students excited and hang posters in the cafeteria, classrooms, and halls. Promo materials available for download below.

Oct 12 to 23

Drawing & Submission Window

Students create and submit their legendary lunches. Kicks off with National School Lunch Week, Oct 12 to 16. Register to get your submission date.

Friday, Oct 23

Last Day to Submit

All drawings must be handed off to your Nutrition One driver. If your driver does not run on Fridays, collect them a day earlier.

Friday, Oct 30

Winners Announced

We contact winning schools directly and share the winners.

What Makes a Lunch Legendary?

Every legendary lunch follows the same rule as a real school lunch. Students pick at least 3 of the 5 food groups, and one of them has to be a fruit or vegetable.

Fruit

Apples, oranges, berries, bananas

Vegetable

Carrots, broccoli, salad, corn

Grain

Bread, rice, pasta, tortillas

Protein

Chicken, beans, eggs, cheese

Milk

A carton of low fat or fat free milk

A quick lesson for the lunch line: every school lunch offers all five food groups. Students need to take at least three, and one of them has to be a fruit or vegetable.

Printables and Promo Materials

Print right from here, or forward this page to your teachers. Print the entry sheet double sided so students get the food group guide on the front and open drawing space on the back.

Student Sheet

Front: food group guide and student entry info. Back: space for the legendary lunch drawing. One sheet per student.

Cafeteria Promo Poster

8.5 x 11 posters for promo week. Hang it in the cafeteria, hallways, and classrooms.

Contest Rules

One drawing per student, on the official Lunch Time Legends entry sheet.
Students must follow the rules on the submission sheet for a chance to win.
Drawings must be the student’s own original work. Crayons, markers, colored pencils, and paint are all welcome.
Fill in the entry info: student first name and last initial, grade, teacher, and school.
Drawings must be handed off to your Nutrition One driver by the date entered on your schools registration.
Entries are judged within grade groups, so students compete with their peers. (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12)
Nutrition One may share submitted artwork. Winner names and photos are only shared with parent or guardian permission.

How to Submit

Print the entry sheet for your class.
Students create their legendary lunch.
SFA/Admin/Teachers collect finished drawings as they come in.
Hand off all drawings to your Nutrition One driver by the date on your Registration form.

Check your delivery schedule: if your driver does not come on Fridays, collect all drawings a day earlier. Plan according to Fall Break.

Students Win Big

Our partners and suppliers sponsor the prizes of the Lunch Time Legends Campaign. Studnets may win a new bike, Air Pods, or Amazon & Other giftcards

Submissions will be judged equally on creativity, effort, and design in their grade group. Winners will be announced Friday, October 30.

Questions from Schools

Does my school need to register?

Who submits the drawings?

Can a student enter more than once?

Our school has fall break during the window. Is that okay?

What if our delivery driver does not run every day?

How will winners be notified?

Still have a question? Our team is happy to help.