Build a Foundation of Balanced Nutrition for Kids with FUNdamental Finger Foods

SPRINGDALE, Ark., May 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- For most parents, finding ways to encourage their picky eaters to try and enjoy new foods is a top priority. In fact, a recent survey showed more than 68 percent of registered dietitians who counsel new parents frequently receive questions about getting finicky eaters to eat at mealtime.(1) To help parents conquer mealtime battles, Tyson Foods and Robin Miller are teaming up to show how finger foods, like Tyson® 100% All Natural Chicken Nuggets, can not only please picky eaters but also be fundamental in building a foundation of balanced eating habits.

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Dietitians cite protein as a very important nutrient for children, along with calcium and vitamin D,  and nearly 70 percent said they would recommend a finger food protein source like Tyson® 100% All Natural Chicken Nuggets because they contain no artificial ingredients, preservatives or fillers.(1)

"Whether your child can't sit still for an entire meal, says 'no!' to everything put in front of him or her, or simply doesn't like a specific color of food for a day, it's important to understand that being a 'picky eater' is a normal part of your child's development," said Robin Miller, chef, nutritionist and host of Quick Fix Meals with Robin Miller on Food Network. "When my boys were younger, and still today, I've found that serving familiar finger foods, like Tyson 100% All Natural Chicken Nuggets, not only provides essential protein, but it also helps to introduce other important foods at mealtime, like dairy, veggies and fruit which will build a great foundation of balanced eating habits."

Robin has developed the following "nuggets" of mealtime wisdom and finger food suggestions to help provide balanced nutrition and please even the pickiest of eaters:

• Hands-on Food: Let's face it -- kids prefer to eat with their hands. Finger foods make ideal meals for kids since you can combine a variety of small portions on one plate. Try partnering protein-packed Tyson® 100% All Natural Chicken Nuggets with vitamin-rich green beans and complex carbohydrate-rich pasta for a mouth-watering, nutritious meal that's easy to eat with little hands. What looks like fun to your child is a well-balanced meal that you can feel good about serving.

• Name Games: Giving fun, creative names to everyday nutritious foods may have kids asking for more!  According to a 2009 Cornell University study, when kids were offered "X-ray vision carrots" instead of plain carrots, they ate 62 percent more carrots(2). Try adopting this approach in your own house by giving silly names to a variety of foods, such as "cloud fluff" for mashed potatoes or "cheese in the trees" for broccoli florets topped with cheese.

• Muffin Tin Meals: Kids love to get their hands into everything, big or small.  Set up a "finger food buffet" and have your kids pick the items they'd like eat. They'll feel included in the process, which will increase their interest in trying a little bit of everything. Start with a muffin tin (or any small container with compartments) and customize the meal by filling the sections with bite-size portions of colorful, nutritious foods. Some great food ideas include: cubed cheese, whole grain cereals, grapes, sugar snap peas, baby carrots, cherry tomatoes and Tyson® 100% All Natural Chicken Nuggets. Once you've filled the compartments, let them pick their items, allowing them to be hands-on with their meals.

Tell Us Your Little Nugget

Most moms have tried almost everything to get their kids to stop saying "no!" to the new or unfamiliar foods on their plates. Once moms find that "nugget" of mealtime wisdom that gets their fussy eaters to try new foods and help build a foundation of balanced nutrition, they often want to pass this valuable information along to other moms.

To encourage moms to share their own "nugget" of mealtime wisdom, Tyson is launching the "Tell Us Your Little Nugget" program at www.yourlittlenugget.com for a chance to win great prizes. Simply submit your "nugget" of mealtime wisdom, which can include any tip that has pleased the young, picky eaters in your household while building the fundamentals of balanced nutrition.

Through a random drawing, three entrants will be selected to receive a $1,500 savings bond and a year supply of Tyson® 100% All Natural Chicken Nuggets. The drawing will also determine a grand prize-winning entrant who will receive a $5,000 savings bond and a year supply of Tyson® 100% All Natural Chicken Nuggets.

For more information on Tyson® 100% All Natural Chicken Nuggets and to read more of Robin Miller's "nuggets" of mealtime wisdom, please visit www.tyson.com.

About Tyson Foods, Inc.

Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN), founded in 1935 with headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, is one of the world's largest processors and marketers of chicken, beef, and pork, the second-largest food production company in the Fortune 500 and a member of the S&P 500. The company produces a wide variety of protein-based and prepared food products and is the recognized market leader in the retail and foodservice markets it serves. Tyson provides products and service to customers throughout the United States and more than 90 countries. The company has approximately 117,000 Team Members employed at more than 400 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world. Through its Core Values, Code of Conduct and Team Member Bill of Rights, Tyson strives to operate with integrity and trust and is committed to creating value for its shareholders, customers and Team Members. The company also strives to be faith-friendly, provide a safe work environment and serve as stewards of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it.

(1) Survey of 406 registered dietitians conducted by PULSE Health & Wellness Initiatives, March 2010

(2) Getting kids to eat veggies: Try 'X-ray vision carrots' study by Cornell Chronicle, December 2009

SOURCE Tyson Foods, Inc.