ORLANDO, Fla., April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Produce for Kids® is gearing up for its largest-ever annual Get Healthy, Give Hope campaign and working with 16 supermarket grocery store chains across the country to help raise money for Children's Miracle Network-affiliated hospitals.

From May through July, participating fresh fruit and vegetable companies will make a donation to local children's hospitals based on sales of their fresh produce items at participating grocery stores.  The more items purchased, the more local children's hospitals benefit.  The participating grocery stores will also feature the Ideal Meals™ program from Produce for Kids.

Produce for Kids' Ideal Meals cards provide quick and easy healthy meal ideas free to shoppers in the produce departments at participating grocery stores.  Ideal Meals offers chef-created/nutritionist-approved complete meal solutions for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. When shoppers buy the sponsors' items featured on the Ideal Meals cards, a donation will be made to support local area children's hospitals. 100% of all funds raised will benefit the children's hospitals.

In a Cornell University study(1), parents were asked to cook with their children and report what happened. Among the results, 94% of respondents reported serving vegetables to their family five or more times per week compared to 76% before they participated in the program.

"We've known for years that families eat healthier when they cook together, and Produce for Kids brings together the opportunity for parents to provide healthier meals while ensuring medical care for kids in need," said Kim Avola, marketing director for Produce for Kids.

New this year, Produce for Kids will feature cutting edge technology with new QR codes (the square bar codes) on the in-store point-of-sale display units and specially marked Ideal Meal cards. The Ideal Meal codes immediately link a shopper's smartphone to cooking demos featuring PFK Chef Marshall O'Brien preparing each meal. Codes on point-of-sale displays link shoppers to the Get Healthy, Give Hope Sweepstakes, to enter for a chance to win a full-motion, interactive gaming system, cookware sets and grocery store gift cards.

Supermarket partners participating in the Get Healthy, Give Hope campaign include: Acme Markets; Kroger's Southwest and King Soopers divisions; Price Chopper, Ahold's GIANT and Martin's Food Stores, Giant Landover, and Stop & Shop divisions; Meijer Stores; Publix Super Markets and Associated Wholesale Grocers' Major Savings, Advantage, Independent, Country Mart, Homeland and United divisions.  

Sponsored products for each supermarket can be found on display materials in the grocery stores' fresh produce departments and online at www.produceforkids.org.

Produce for Kids promotes healthy lifestyles for children by educating kids and parents about the benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables while also supporting worthy children's causes.  Since its creation in 2002 by Shuman Produce Inc., Produce for Kids has raised more than $3.1 million for local Children's Miracle Network hospitals and PBS KIDS® to educate parents on healthy eating and raises funds for public broadcasting.

To learn more, visit www.produceforkids.org.

About Children's Miracle Network Hospitals

Children's Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds for 170 children's hospitals across North America, which, in turn, use the money where it's needed the most. When a donation is given it stays in the community, ensuring that every dollar is helping local kids. Since 1983, Children's Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $4 billion, most of it $1 at a time. These donations have gone to support research and training, purchase equipment, and pay for uncompensated care, all in support of our mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Learn more at CMNHospitals.org.

(1)  Cooking Together for Family Meals (2009); Gillespie, Ardyth Harris; Thonney, Patricia F. Cornell University College of Agricultural and Life Sciences http://impact.cals.cornell.edu/project/cooking-together-family-meals

SOURCE Produce for Kids