This winter, LincolnHealth and other MaineHealth facilities are participating in Food Fight!, a battle of fruit and vegetable recipes.

Food Fight! is a way to highlight healthy eating by sharing recipes that feature local fruits and vegetables. In Lincoln County, LincolnHealth is seeking healthy recipes featuring pears. Recipes can be for a salad, soup, dessert or side dish.

It’s easy to get involved. LincolnHealth just needs your best ideas! Here are the steps:
1. Find your best recipe using pears
2. Go to http://www.MaineHealthFoodFight.com, and
3. Submit your recipe in the form.

The panel that will judge LincolnHealth’s pear recipe submissions in February include: a food service director, Let’s Go! coordinator, members of the WOW Council, administration, marketing and a member from Healthy Lincoln County.

Once selected, the top two recipes will be prepared and served in the LincolnHealth Café in March. Cafeteria attendees will have the chance to taste and vote for their favorite dish. The dish with the most votes will advance to the final round.

The purpose of the event is to build engagement with communities in support of the LincolnHealth’s mission and vision. Food Fight! will highlight the important role that healthy foods play in making our communities the healthiest in America.

The final round is a tasting event and celebration held at MaineHealth at 110 Free Street in Portland on March 29, from 3 to 5 p.m., where all MaineHealth member organizations will come together to sample the top recipes from each organization. All of the winning recipes will be prepared by a catering company and attendees will vote to determine which one takes the top spot. Judging also includes taste-testing by a panel of local celebrity judges.

Winners will receive the following great prizes:

• The two individuals with the top recipe submissions at LincolnHealth will receive a Food Fight! prize package, including a Food Fight! apron.
• The top two recipes at each organization will also be featured in a Food Fight! Recipe book, which will be distributed in April.
• The individual with the winning recipe at each organization will be invited to attend the final round of the Food Fight! where his or her recipe will be judged alongside other recipes from MaineHealth member organizations.
• The individual who wins the final round of the Food Fight! will receive a $250 Hannaford gift card.

Deadline for recipe submissions is Feb. 8. For more details and to share a healthy recipe, go to http://www.MaineHealthFoodFight.com.