Publix & Produce For Kids Team Up To Raise Money!

We love our local Publix and had to share this with readers! Produce for Kids is teaming up with Publix stores for the second annual Healthy Families, Helping Kids campaign to raise money for local health and nutrition-based classroom projects through DonorsChoose.org. 

Beginning September 27th through October 4th, the joint campaign will help raise money for classroom projects that encourage healthy relationships with food.  The more produce Publix shoppers add to their shopping lists, the more hope they can give to local children. All participating fresh fruit and vegetable suppliers at Publix stores will make a consumption-based donation DonorsChoose.org. Last year, the campaign raised more than $169,000 and supported 652 classroom projects throughout the country.

Shoppers should be on the lookout for Produce for Kids signage, featuring characters from the popular Sprout® television show,The Chica Show, in the produce section of local Publix stores. There, they will be directed to visit www.produceforkids.com for even more Ideal Meals recipes, tips and solutions to help shoppers keep their families healthy for back-to-school and year-round.

Below are some nutritious and delicious brand new fall inspired PFK recipes that will keep the whole family nutritiously fed from breakfast to dessert:  

Fruity Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

Serves 4

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup canned pumpkin purée

2 cups lowfat vanilla yogurt

1 cup spinach, loosely packed

½ cup pomegranate juice

1 medium banana

1 medium mango, chopped

1 tsp. cinnamon

⅛ tsp. cloves

Directions:

1. Place pumpkin, yogurt, spinach, juice, banana, mango, cinnamon and cloves into blender. Blend until smooth.

Suggested Sides for a Complete Meal:

•       1 slice whole wheat toast with 1 Tbsp. nut butter

Recipe by Christine Pittman of Cook the Story

Hearty Turkey & Kale Chili

Serves 8

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 8 hours

Ingredients:
1 lb. lean ground turkey
1 medium onion, diced

1 green bell pepper, seeded, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1½ Tbsp. chili powder
1½ Tbsp. cumin
2 tsp. dried oregano
2 Tbsp. tomato paste
2 cans (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes, drained
1 can (15 oz.) low-sodium black beans, drained, rinsed
1 can (15 oz.) no salt added corn, drained
¾ cup low-sodium chicken broth
4 cups kale, tough stems removed, chopped

1 cup 2% plain Greek yogurt

1 cup unsalted tortilla chips, crushed

Directions:

1. Add turkey, onion, pepper, garlic, chili powder, cumin, oregano, tomato paste, tomatoes, black beans, corn, broth and kale to slow cooker, and cook on low 8 hours.
2. Top with Greek yogurt and tortilla chips.

Pear-Stuffed Baked Apples

Serves 4

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

4 large apples

2 pears, peeled, chopped

½ lemon, juiced

¼ cup pecans, finely chopped

¼ cup dried cranberries

1 Tbsp. cinnamon

¼ tsp. nutmeg

⅓ cup light brown sugar

2 Tbsp. caramel dip

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
2. Remove tops from apples and core, leaving apples whole. Sprinkle inside with lemon juice.
3. Mix pear, pecans, cranberries, cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar in bowl.
4. Tightly pack apples with pear mixture. Place in baking dish and add water to fill pan ½-inch. Bake 30-40 minutes, or until apples are soft.
5. Drizzle with caramel dip.

This post was written in conjunction with Publix. A gift bag was sent as compensation. All written opinions are my own. 

Produce For Kids Get Healthy, Give Hope Campaign- $25 Publix GC & Gift Bag Giveaway

We love our local Publix and, since it is the closest to our house, we go several times a week. It has quickly become our favorite grocery store, so we are excited to announce the Produce for Kids annual launching of Get Healthy, Give Hope campaign with major supermarket chains across the country, including your local Publix store. They are helping raise money for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals from May 30th to June 27th! In fact, we have already donated to this great cause when checking out at Publix. Plus, the more produce Publix shoppers purchase, the MORE hope they can give to local children. All participating fresh fruit and veggie suppliers at Publix stores are making a donation to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals based on the consumption and purchasing of fruit! So, you eat healthy and the donation to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals increases. It's really win-win for everyone, right?

Plus, if you donate at check-out, you get a great sheet of coupons to use on your next shopping trip. We got some great ones. To learn more about the Get Healthy, Give Hope campaign, visit the Produce for Kids in-store display. Ours is near the front of the store, near the deli area. The display features a variety of great recipes that are easy to prepare and delicious. There is also other helpful information on the campaign, healthy eating tips and links to the Ideal Meals® recipes online. The display also features characters from the Sprout® channel, my kids favorite channel at the moment!! So, look for the "LazyTown" characters as well as Chica from "The Chica Show".

Here is one of the delicious recipes we thought readers would enjoy from the Ideal Meals® website:

Fruit Smoothie Pops 

(16 servings)

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

·   1 large peach or mango, peeled, chopped

·   1 large nectarine, peeled, chopped

·   2 medium bananas, peeled, sliced

·   1 cup strawberries, leaves hulled

·   1 cup blueberries

·   ¼ cup orange or fruit juice

·   2 cups low-fat vanilla yogurt

·   16 paper cups

Directions:

1. Place all smoothie ingredients in a blender and blend until just smooth.

2. Place 16 paper cups on a baking tray.  Pour smoothie into paper cups.  Place tray in freezer and freeze until slushy, about 20 minutes. 

3. Remove tray from freezer and insert one popsicle stick into the center of each cup.  Return to freezer and freeze until firm, about 2 hours.

4. Tear away paper cup and place on plate.

Ready For A Giveaway?

One Lucky Reader Will Receive A $25 Publix Gift Card along with a Produce For Kids Gift Bag, which includes:

• Reusable Shopping Tote
• Coupons
• Sandwich Containers
• On-The-Go Water Glass
• Some extra surprises!

Get To Publix From Now Until October 24th To Support Local Schools & $25 Publix GC Giveaway

We love shopping at our local Publix and now we have more of a reason to go from now through October 24th! Publix is teaming up with Produce for Kids to host the second annual Healthy Schools, Healthy Minds campaign in which shoppers can help contribute to the cause and support local schools.

How do we participate?
All you have to do to support your local schools is add produce to your Publix shopping lists! During this campaign participating fresh fruit and vegetable suppliers will make a donation based on consumption of their fresh produce items to DonorsChoose.org, which supports local classroom projects!

Be on the lookout for the Produce for Kids displays throughout Publix featuring the characters from the popular Sprout shows, LazyTown and Noodle and Doodle! These are located in the produce section and will tell you which items of produce will benefit local classrooms. The more you add, the more they benefit!

Win on Pinterest
Produce for Kids just began a fun and exciting contest on Pinterest! Check it out by clicking here!

Win Here!

One Lucky Children Teaching Mama Reader Will Receive a $25 Publix Gift Card along with Produce For Kids and Sprout Goodies!! 

Just use the Rafflecopter form below to enter! This giveaway is open to US Residents 18+ Years of age and ends on Monday, November 12th at 11:59pm. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Produce for Kids & Publix Host the Annual Get Healthy, Give Hope Campaign

Produce for Kids® is launching its annual Get Healthy, Give Hope campaign with 16 major supermarket chains across the United States, including your local Publix stores, to help raise money for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Since I am Mama that spends a great deal of time with my son at the hospital due to his diagnosis of NF, I had to tell you about this wonderful cause!

From now through June 28th, shoppers can support local children's cancer research programs and get healthy all at the same time! Produce is a must-have on any shopping list and, thanks to the annual Get Healthy, Give Hope campaign, the more produce you buy, the more hope they can give to local children!

Also, this year marks the 10th birthday of Produce for Kids and they are so excited to kick off this year's campaign with a new partnership with Sprout and LazyTown^TM! During the campaign, Produce for Kids will also offer shoppers Ideal Meals, which are quick, easy healthy recipes found for free in displays featuring LazyTown® characters! LazyTown^TM is a popular, health-focused cartoon series in the U.S. aired on the Sprout channel. Ideal Meals offers shoppers delicious, easy solutions for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even dessert. Featuring healthy products, such as fresh fruits and veggies, these are great meals for busy families who don't want the unhealthy drive-thru foods!
I was sent several delicious recipe ideas from Ideal Meals, but this one has to be my absolute favorite and something I know my kids will love:

Tasty Hummus Sandwich

Serves 4

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

·   8 slices whole wheat bread

·   4 Tbsp. hummus

·   4 Tbsp. guacamole

·   4 romaine lettuce leaves

·   4 Tbsp. goat cheese

·   2 mini cucumbers, sliced

·   1 medium tomato, sliced

Directions:

1. Toast bread. Spread 1 Tbsp. hummus and guacamole on 1 slice of bread, add 1 romaine lettuce leaf, spread 1 Tbsp. goat cheese, then add cucumber and tomato slices.
2. Top with second slice of bread. 

Nutrition Information:

Tasty Hummus Sandwich Calories 381, Fat 9.7g, Protein 15.1g, Carbohydrate 59.3g, Fiber 9.8g, Cholesterol 6mg, Sodium 452mg, Calcium 122mg, Vitamin A 3187 IU, Vitamin C 15.6mg, Iron 4.3mg

For more recipes like this, go to the Produce for Kids website! Want to know when the campaign is coming to your local grocer? Here's a list of the campaign dates across the U.S.:
·         Meijer: May 27^th – June 23^rd
·         Homeland: May 30^th – June 27^th
·         Publix: May 31^st – June 28^th
·         Kroger Southwest: June 13^th – July 24^th
·         Fred Meyer: June 14^th – July 26^th
·         Price Chopper: June 17^th – July 28^th
·         King Soopers: June 20^th – July 31^st
·         Kroger Central: June 21^st – July 18^th

 What is your favorite quick meal to make for your family? This summer join this great campaign, buy lots of produce to benefit the children AND enjoy some delicious healthy meals with your family!