food

Del Monte Sponsors Kids Recipe Contest

Del Monte/Stirring Up Health

Del Monte is partnering with the Healthy Kids Challenge (HKC), a non-profit educating families in building healthier lifestyles to present the 8th annual Stirring Up Health recipe contest for middle school students.

The contest requires entrants to develop or modify an existing recipe to make it healthier using Del Monte brand fruits, vegetables or tomatoes as a primary ingredient. Incorporating healthy baking as part of their creation is encouraged. Consumer science teachers, civic group leaders, and even parents can use the contest to engage kids through a creative process with cooking.

Educational partners, Johnson & Wales University and the Home Baking Association, also are sponsoring the contest. The association offers online food demo videos and teacher lesson plans to enhance the classroom experience. Four regional contest winners will be treated at school to their winning recipe prepared by a skilled culinary expert from Johnson & Wales.

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Entry forms and contest rules can be obtained at www.healthykidschallenge.org. The contest is open until March 13, and winners will be announced in April.

The contest helps to show consumers that even if they are struggling financially, it's not necessary to sacrifice eating nutritionally balanced foods -- since Del Monte products are affordable, says Vickie James, a registered/licensed dietitian and director of the Healthy Kids Challenge.

Sponsors of the contest in previous years include Mission Foods and Cabot Creamery. HKC has also worked with other corporate sponsors on other projects including Kraft, which it teamed with for Salsa, Sabor y Salud -- a first-of-its-kind healthy lifestyles educational program designed by Latinos for Latinos.

The HKC and Aquafina developed a collection of hydration tip sheets for educators to use in teaching the important role of water as a beverage. Healthy Kids Challenge and Arby's teamed up to create awareness of healthy eating and physical activity. Air Arby's high-flying toys were designed to encourage families to get active outside. HKC offered a discount for kids activity booklets with the purchase of a healthy kids' meal.

Del Monte's relationship with the Healthy Kids Challenge extends beyond the contest. Via an electronic newsletter, families, schools and youth groups are "challenged" to adopt healthy habits. Those that report their success stories are eligible to be showcased on the Healthy Kids Challenge Web site and be entered in a random drawing for prizes that include products from Del Monte.

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