Taking pictures is a great way to capture the moment, but why not take pictures that could possibly earn you some money and bring awareness to healthy eating habits? Whatchu Eatin’, a statewide contest, encourages high schoolers of Hawaiʻi to submit photos of their breakfasts or lunches for a chance to win a variety of great prizes and bring change to school lunches.

Junior Chase Manosa and four students from other high schools across the state, are teaming up with the Hawai’i Youth Food Council, to encourage students to enter the contest. Manoa became involved as part of his senior project, but the original deadline fell right at the start of Spring Break, which also coincided with the start of social distancing and the beginnings of the coronavirus shutdowns.

Due to the current health concerns, changes have been made to the project. Originally, students were asked to submit photos of their school meals, but as of now, the contest is accepting photos of meals from home, and the deadline has been extended until April 15.

“The focus has kind of shifted to what kids eat now, and we are hoping to see some contrast either good or bad,” Manosa said.

This project aims to benefit the Hawai’i Department of Education school system because it is targeting bills that focus on plant-based food options, free and reduced lunch, local food hubs, food waste, and improving meals to limit waste in public schools.

“l chose this project as a way to give back,” Manosa said. He said that he was lucky enough to have good lunches from kindergarten, so by doing this, he hopes to give other kids a chance to have better and cheaper lunches regardless of their family income or if they attend a public or private school.

Plus, “It gives the high schoolers of Hawaiʻi a chance to win a cash prize,” he said.

Manosa hopes that by participating in the project, students will be able to draw attention to school lunches and shift the mindset of the legislature in order to pass the collection of healthy-eating bills.

Students can enter by logging on to bit.ly/WhatchuEatin and submitting photos by midnight, April 15.

There will be four top winners (one per county), who will win $200 cash, and 10 honorable mentions will win $25 gift cards.

“My overall goal is to get the bills passed, so the quality of food and general environment of lunch time at all schools can be better,” Manosa said.

For more information, visit bit.ly/WhatchuEatin

The Hawai’i Youth Food Council is hosting this contest with support from Hawai’i Appleseed, Blue Zones Project, Hawai’i Farm to School Hui, YMCA, Kapiʻolani Community College, and ‘Āina Pono.