The Foundation for Fresh Produce is launching its first-ever monthlong campaign, “Hacks for Healthy Back-to-School Habits,” in partnership with leading U.S. retailers and food industry partners, according to a news release. The campaign, designed to promote simple and engaging food, cooking and meal prep “hacks,” aims to instill healthy eating habits in children as they head back to school.
The campaign was inspired by research from The Foundation for Fresh Produce, which reveals that toddlers are currently the only age group meeting the recommended levels of fruit and vegetable consumption. The findings highlight the importance of establishing routine produce consumption habits in children, which will last throughout their lifetime, the release said.
“The foundation’s research underscores the crucial role that early childhood produce consumption plays in establishing lifelong healthy eating patterns,” said Emily Holdorf, registered dietitian for the Foundation for Fresh Produce. “With our partners, we are committed to providing practical hacks and promoting consistent produce habits and messaging to ensure children maintain their recommended consumption levels as they grow.”
The campaign is set to feature activations at nine retail partners nationwide: Coborn’s Inc., Fresh Thyme, Hy-Vee, Inserra Supermarkets, Meijer, Natural Grocers, Schnucks, The United Family of Stores, and Weis Markets. These retailers will engage children and their families with innovative strategies to integrate more fruits and vegetables into their daily routines, the release said.
Examples of retail activities include:
- Hy-Vee is launching the “Hy-Vee Hacks for Healthy Back-to-School Habits” shopper challenge, encouraging families to choose produce more frequently.
- Meijer is offering 100 lucky shoppers an individual consultation with a registered dietitian through Have A Plant Scholarships, focusing on incorporating fruits and veggies into preschool meals, lunch boxes and after-school snacks.
- Schnuck’s and Weis Markets are set to provide shoppers with product hacks through in-store magazines.
Additional campaign elements include cooking demonstrations, virtual classes, in-store displays, social media posts, produce incentive coupons and more.
Retailers can access ideas, including sample social media posts, a “25 Hacks for Healthy Back-to-School Habits” infographic, in-store intercom scripts and more through the “Hacks to Habits Back-to-School Retail Guide,” available free online.
“Making it easy and fun for kids to consume more fruits and vegetables is the key to success when it comes to building lifelong healthy eating habits for children,” said Katie Calligaro, director of marketing and communication for The Foundation for Fresh Produce. “While we know the majority of children consume meals prepared by their school’s nutrition program — which are required to follow the Dietary Guidelines for Americans — the meals and snacks prepared at home play a critical role in boosting fruit and vegetable consumption.
“Providing tools that streamline messaging for retailers can help elevate fruits and vegetables in a way that consistently resonates with consumers,” Calligaro continued. “The more they hear it, see it, and experience it, the more likely they are to repeat it, which is what creates a habit.”
This inaugural back-to-school promotion is sponsored by The Foundation for Fresh Produce in collaboration with the California Walnut Board, Egg Nutrition Center, and National Pork Board. This partnership emphasizes the importance of pairing fruits and vegetables with other nutrient-dense foods to create balanced, nutritious eating habits, the release said.
For more information on ways to get involved with The Foundation for Fresh Produce, contact Sharese Roper, director of industry and partner engagement at [email protected].
