Eau Claire residents can grab a healthy, ready-to-go lunch while supporting local postsecondary students courtesy of a partnership between Midwest Meals and Chippewa Valley Technical College. On Feb. 6, Daniel Beck, CEO of Midwest Meals, offered to invite CVTC Culinary Management students to help develop new menu products for the business in exchange for scholarship awards. Students may develop meal ideas for pre-packaged, ready-to-eat lunches and submit them for consideration. Meals must fit into the company’s packaging and within their guidelines for healthy cuisine. Midwest Meals will award scholarships to students who submit meals that make it onto the menu. “This is a great opportunity for you young culinarians to get your name out there,” Kevin Brown, director of the CVTC Culinary Management program, told his students when introducing the plan. Erica Jones, a student from Beloit, was already thinking of what she would like to contribute. “Midwest Meals doesn’t have a lot of vegetarian options, and as I am a vegetarian, I’d like to offer some of my ideas,” she said. “It’s a diet that’s gaining in popularity.” Mitch Clark, a student from Menomonie, also expressed excitement. “It would be an opportunity for those who want to continue in the career to have their name out there.”