Starting this Sunday, September 4 through Saturday, October 1, parents can help their families “Eat Smart for a Great Start” each time they visit the produce section of their local Meijer store. The grocer is partnering with Produce for Kids® (PFK) to encourage families to learn more about healthy eating with fresh produce and to raise money for PBS KIDS®.
When shoppers purchase sponsored fruits and vegetables, a donation will be made to support PBS KIDS programming, which provides educational content, resources and outreach materials for families and educators to promote healthy lifestyles through healthy eating.
All stores will feature Produce For Kids Ideal Meals™ card displays as part of the promotion. Ideal Meals are chef-created, nutritionist-approved meals for breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner. The featured Ideal Meal, Cheesy Potato Bites, will be demonstrated in all Meijer stores on September 10.
“We have been partnering with Produce for Kids for the past eight years, and together, we have helped educate our customers about the importance of healthy food choices,” said Brian Coates, Senior Produce Buyer, Meijer, Inc., “By working with Produce for Kids, and helping support PBS KIDS’ healthy eating programming, we are helping parents teach their children how to eat in order to make their bodies storng and healthy.”
Shoppers can also enter the “Play With Your Produce Challenge” for a chance to win PBS KIDS® personalized back-to-school gear and grocery gift cards valued up to $100. Teachers are also invited to enter their classrooms in the “Play With Your Produce Classroom Challenge” and can win $500, $750 or $1,000 cash rewards for their classroom. Find out more and enter online at produceforkids.org
New this fall, PFK will be introducing the Parents on Produce Board. The board is made up of influencers in the online parenting community and will provide resources for busy parents year round that will support healthy lifestyles and balanced eating habits for families.
The purchase of the following items during the promotion at all Meijer Food Stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky will benefit PBS Kids: Chiquita® Bananas, NatureSweet® Vine Ripened Cherry Tomatoes, DOLE® Packaged Salads, SUNSET® Mini Cucumbers, Marzetti® Caramel Dip, Michigan Apples, Green Giant® Fresh Klondike Rose® & Red Potatoes, Stemilt Growers™ Pears and TopLine® Seedless Cucumbers. In addition, these foods are featured in the Ideal Meals™ recipes found in stores.
To learn more about Produce for Kids and healthy eating, visit www.produceforkids.org
