A six year old spit out Tom Colicchio's food on a stage in Washington earlier this week, reported Tim Carman of The Washington Post. Part of the Great American Family Dinner Challenge, Austin Jackson rejected two dishes prepared by teams of top chefs cooking meals based on a food stamp budget of $10 per family. 

Dish one he coughed out was a shredded carrot, apple raisin salad, and a beef stir-fry made by Colicchio and Maria Hines of Tilth in Seattle. Dish two that was rejected included a frisee and avocado salad, with chicken thighs and a vegetable quinoa from Ming Tsai of Blue Ginger in Wellesley, Massachusetts and Holly Smith of Cafe Juanita of Kirkland, Washington. "He circled numerous unhappy faces on his judges scorecard," wrote Carman.

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Austin and his mother Kim Mrkva from Toledo were one of two families chosen to judge the event after winning a contest from Parents and Ser Padres magazines. The cook-off was an event from the Building a Healthier future summit, organized byPartnership for a Healthy America, working to eliminate childhood obesity.

Colicchio said he has two kids at home, and conceded, "when you got a half hour to cook, you got to do what you can. Those kids are hungry when they want to eat." 

"This is what parents gotta deal with," said emcee Sam Kass, assistant White House chef.

I'd have some trouble keeping these menus under $10 bucks, let alone worry whether a child will like what's on the plate. And I wouldn't even serve frisee for my father, let alone a six year old. I love it, but it's bitter and spindly. 

Looking to cook healthy meals for under a ten spot? Check out one of a hundred recipes here. 

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