A SCHOOLGIRL'S recipe for success has seen her taste victory in a school's food competition.

Darcy Fox, eight, of St Wilfrids School, in Ripon, won a competition to design a menu fit for an athlete.

The school's pupils had to create a menu to provide all the right nutritional elements a competitive athlete would need.

Then they had to explain their reasoning and choice of foods and finally cook their menu.

Darcy's winning meal was chicken with tomato and mascarpone cheese, served with broccoli and sweetcorn, with pasta or new potatoes.

Keith Tillbrook, general manager of North Yorkshire County Caterers, said: "Darcy's winning menu shows a real understanding of the nutrition requirements of a competitive sportsperson, combining the right proportions of carbohydrates, fats, fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals."

Creating her winning entry won the Ripon youngster an iPod.

Headteacher Peter Burdekin added: "The children thoroughly enjoyed designing the menus."