For some Suffolk restaurateurs, dessert could turn out to be the best part of the meal during the city’s semi-annual Restaurant Week, which takes place March 14-21.

That’s because participating restaurants have a chance to take home part of a $4,500 prize purse for whipping up the best healthy desserts.

Restaurant Week is a way to spotlight some of the best eateries, top chefs and tastiest dishes of Suffolk. Sponsored by Suffolk Tourism, the event has participating establishments offering three-course, fixed-price menus at the deluxe ($10 lunch/$20 dinner) or premier ($15 lunch/$30 dinner) levels for lunch and/or dinner. There are no coupons, tickets or vouchers needed.

Folks could be forgiven for thinking it would be hard to improve on such a delectable deal. But a group of health-conscious organizations set out last year to see what they could do to inspire participating chefs to make the dessert course of those fixed-price meals a healthy one.

Three different restaurants — Harper’s Table, Cedar Point Country Club and Suffolk BBQ — won awards for their creations, and a tradition was born.

Building on last year’s success, Healthy People Healthy Suffolk has once again joined the Suffolk News-Herald — as well as Obici Healthcare Foundation, Stop Diabetes, Suffolk Partnership for a Healthy Community, Suffolk Tourism and Love Local Buy Suffolk — to bring the contest back.

This year, the winner of the Judge’s Award will receive $2,000, the winner of the Presentation Award will earn $1,500 and the winner of the People’s Choice award through online voting will get $1,000.

In a very real sense, it will pay to eat healthy during Restaurant Week.

For full Restaurant Week menus from participating eateries, visit www.suffolk-fun.com.

Eat up, Suffolk. But save some room for a healthy dessert.