The other day I was talking to some friends about how kids hear everything and copy what you say. . we were talking about the importance of watching your language and setting a good example for your children. I don’t know about your kids, but my kids copy everything I say and the way I say it. They are like sponges, absorbing everything around them. . which makes sense since they are kids. Kids looking up to their parents to learn from them. .
As parents, we have a tough job. Not only do we need to raise our children with good values and lessons but we also need to teach them by example. I feel like this seeps into every facet of their lives. How they act and react. How they are in front of other adults or when you’re not around.
Down to the decisions they make, the foods they eat and ultimately, the decisions they will make as young adults.
Today, I’ve teamed up with Produce for Kids to tell you about a campaign they are currently running, called Get Healthy, Give Hope.
Across the country, grocery shoppers can help contribute to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® and other local children’s charities this summer – just by shopping for healthy and nutritious fruits and vegetables at more than 17 participating grocery store chains. On May 2, Produce for Kids® kicked off its 12th annual Get Healthy, Give Hope campaign, which is expected to pass $5 million in overall contributions in 2014.
Produce for Kids is committed to educating families on the benefits of healthy eating and inspiring parents and children to create nutritious and delicious meals together. For more than a decade, Produce for Kids has partnered with regional supermarkets to provide much-needed funding for local children’s organizations. This is an important year for the program, as they expect to surpass the $5 million mark in total funds raised.
The Get Healthy, Give Hope campaign will run from May through July 2014 with the support of more than 35 participating fresh fruit and vegetable suppliers, representing every major category of fresh produce. Suppliers will make a consumption-based donation to local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and other community children’s organizations. So, the more items from participating companies and grocery retailers that shoppers purchase, the more local children’s organizations benefit.
The Grocery retail partners participating in the Get Healthy, Give Hope campaign include: Ahold’s GIANT and Martin’s Food Stores, Giant Landover, and Stop & Shop divisions; Associated Wholesale Grocers’ Major Savings, Advantage, Independent, Country Mart, Homeland and United divisions; Meijer Stores; Price Chopper; Publix Super Markets; and Roundy’s Supermarkets, Inc.’s Pick n’ Save, Rainbow Foods, Copps Food Center, Metro Market divisions.
For each meal that my kids eat, I always incorporate a vegetable of some sort, either raw or roasted, and nowadays because berries and peaches are in season, I can get away with serving simple fruit cups for snacks and dessert. I try to feed my children as many fruits and vegetables as they will eat and I try to introduce something new every once in a while. So, whether you are sautéing it, roasting it or serving it raw with a dip, let’s get some more fresh vegetables and fruit in front of our kiddos.
And here’s hoping that the healthy eating habits we try to establish with our children now stick with them!
Simple Fruit Salad
Ingredients
- 1 peach skin on, sliced lengthwise and chopped
- 1/2 cup raspberries
- 1/2 cup blueberries
- 1/2 cup strawberries chopped
- 1 to 2 oranges peeled and chopped
- 1 to 2 bananas peeled and chopped
- 1 teaspoon honey
- mint leaves
Instructions
- Using a large mixing bowl, combine all of the chopped fruit and drizzle on the honey. Mix well and let sit for about 3-4 minutes. Serve in cups or small bowls and top with fresh mint.
THE GIVEAWAY!!
To help promote this campaign in the WISCONSIN AREA ONLY (sorry guys! we’re keeping it local today) and to get as many of you out there purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables, we’re giving away a $100 GROCERY gift card to use at any one of the following grocery store retailers only: Copps, Pick ‘N Save or Metro Market. So, to clarify, if you do not have one of these grocery stores in your local area, please do not enter this giveaway as the $100 gift card will only be good at one of these stores.
Disclosure: I received a $100 grocery gift card in order to purchase all of the fresh fruit you see above. Thank you for allowing me to help support and promote the brands, companies and campaigns that I believe in.
