MEIJER AND PRODUCE FOR KIDS® CELEBRATE FAMILY MEALS MONTH THROUGH FRUIT AND VEGGIE-FILLED MEALS
Campaign encourages families to enjoy produce while raising funds for the Jump with Jill in-school nutrition show
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The healthy eating-focused Produce for Kids® campaign at Meijer stores kicked off over the weekend and is raising funds to help bring the Jump with Jill nutrition education program to local schools in the six-state Meijer area. The campaign, which occurs during the Food Marketing Institute’s Family Meals Month, offers Meijer shoppers in-store and online meal solutions, recipes and tips for families to eat healthier meals together.
Ten fresh fruit and vegetable companies are taking part in the Meijer and Produce for Kids campaign, which will run through Oct. 1. Meijer grocery shoppers are encouraged to support these brands by eating more nutritious fruits and vegetables.
Through its partnership with Produce for Kids, Meijer and select fruit and vegetable companies have raised more than $1.2 million for charities that benefit children and families in the Meijer footprint. Since 2014, Produce for Kids and Meijer have funded 75 Jump with Jill rock & roll nutrition shows at schools in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.
“At Meijer, our mission is to provide our customers with a fresh and healthy experience while creating strong local communities through school programs like Jump with Jill,” said Shari Steinbach, registered dietitian and Meijer nutrition manager. “September is Family Meals Month, so it’s a great time for our shoppers to introduce new recipes filled with fresh fruits and vegetables to their families.”
In-store displays, featuring locally-known rock & roll nutrition show Jump with Jill, will be in Meijer’s produce departments and will feature recipes for shoppers to take home. The signage will also direct shoppers to www.produceforkids.com/meijer, which features more than 270 registered dietitian-approved and family-tested recipes, meal planning tools, grocery store-specific campaign details, and healthy tips from real parents.
During the campaign, residents of Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin can post pictures of their family shopping, preparing, or cooking a meal with the hashtag #FamilyFoodRockstar for a chance to win a $100 Meijer gift card.
“Our longstanding partnership with Meijer has allowed us to educate shoppers about the benefits of eating nutritious produce as part of a healthy lifestyle,” said John Shuman, president of Produce for Kids. “Through Jump with Jill, we are able to spread that message in schools, impacting the nutrition decisions of future generations.”
A familiar initiative to Midwest families, Jump with Jill is armed with catchy songs, upbeat dance moves, and a hip wardrobe to engage kids on the subject of health and leave them empowered to eat better.
Meijer offers a diverse selection of fruits and vegetables to make it easier for families to live out what they learned from Jump with Jill in the produce department of their local grocery store.
Produce companies participating in the campaign include: Avocados from Mexico, Dole® Salads, Earthbound Farm® Organic Mixed Baby Kale, Highline Mushrooms®, SUNSET® Tomatoes, Michigan Apples, Pero Family Farms® Mini Sweet Pepper Rings & Snipped Green Beans, Green Giant™ Fresh Klondike Rose® & Red Potatoes, Lil Snappers® Bartlett Pears and Gala Apples, and Marzetti Simply Dressed® Refrigerated Salad Dressings and Marzetti® Caramel Dip.
For more information about the Meijer and Produce for Kids campaign, visit www.produceforkids.com/meijer. Official rules for the #FamilyFoodRockstar can be found at www.jumpwithjill.com/familiyfoodrockstar.
