GLENDALE, Calif., April 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Nestle USA, under its El Mejor Nido ("The Best Nest") platform, and Superior Grocers today announced the launch of a campaign specifically designed to help families in the Los Angeles metro area prepare and enjoy healthier, balanced meals at home. As part of the campaign, 10 local chapters of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America will also receive a total of $50,000 in donations to help strengthen their efforts to provide nutrition education to its members.

From April through December 2014, consumers will see English- and Spanish-language communications about creating easy and affordable balanced meals inside 41 Superior Grocers stores throughout Los Angeles. These include multi-brand displays, valuable instant- and mail-in-rebate coupons, flyers with easy-to-prepare meal ideas and recipes, and more. Some of the helpful tips featured in the in-store communications include:

• Round Out Frozen Entrees. Frozen prepared meals are time-savers and can be a part of an overall healthful diet, if they're served with a side salad, whole wheat bread, a serving of fruit, and/or a glass of milk. Nestle offers a variety of nutritious products the whole family can enjoy like STOUFFER'S® Lasagna, DIGIORNO® RISING CRUST® Pizza and HOT POCKETS® brand sandwiches.
• Buy Ripe Produce. Fresh fruits and vegetables are essential to a healthy diet. Consult the grocery store's ads, like Superior Grocer's circular,  to check what produce is on sale, as this means it's at its ripest stage and will likely be the most nutritious – and flavorful. Because ripe produce won't last long at home, make sure to eat it quickly, or clean, cut them up and freeze them in plastic bags for future use.
• Buy Whole Chickens. Chicken is a good, lean protein for soups, enchiladas or grilling. To save money, buy whole chickens and cut them up yourself, instead of buying pre-packaged chicken pieces.
• Choose Frozen Fruit Instead of Canned. If you're craving out-of-season fruit, opt for buying bags of frozen fruit vs. cans, which are typically high in sugar. If you still want a touch of sweetness, drizzle some NESTLE® LA LECHERA® Fat-Free Sweetened Condensed Milk on top of the thawed fruit.

"Most people understand the need to incorporate nutrition, health and wellness into their daily lives, but unfortunately many feel like they don't have the time or resources to do so," Margie Bravo, Multicultural Marketing Manager for Nestle USA. "That's why it was important for us to leverage our El Mejor Nido platform and collaborate with Superior Grocers to create this program, giving Hispanic families in Los Angeles what they need to make healthier meals at home."

"Every day, thousands of consumers come to our stores throughout Southern California and are faced with the decision of what foods to buy for their families. Combined with our commitment to providing the best quality and freshest products possible, we know this program will help our customers 'Set the Table' for healthier meals at home," said Mimi Song, Chairman & CEO of Superior Grocers.

As part of the "Set the Table" program, 10 Boys & Girls Clubs in the Greater Los Angeles area will receive monetary donations totaling $50,000 to aid in their efforts to educate their members on healthy eating habits. Additionally, Nestle USA and Superior Grocers will sponsor dinner events at select clubs where families will enjoy a complimentary healthy meal together, receive cost- and time-effective tips on how to prepare a balanced meal at home, participate in raffles and more.

"We're very grateful to Nestle USA and Superior Grocers for their continued support of our 26 local clubs in the Los Angeles area that currently serve over 140,000 children and their families in need, 80% of which are of Hispanic descent. This donation will help us continue providing guidance to our members so they can improve aspects of their lives, including eating more healthfully at home," said Mary E. Hewitt, Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Alliance for Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Over the last 15 years, Nestle USA has supported Boys & Girls Clubs of America by encouraging its employees to volunteer their time at local chapters, as well as by providing monetary and product donations to the clubs. Superior Grocers also has a strong history of being an active community supporter of many youth programs and charity organizations for over 30 years.  

About Nestle USA

Named one of "The World's Most Admired Food Companies" in Fortune magazine for seventeen consecutive years, Nestle provides quality brands that bring flavor to life every day.  From nutritious meals with LEAN CUISINE® to baking traditions with NESTLE® TOLL HOUSE®, Nestle USA makes delicious, convenient, and nutritious food and beverages that make good living possible.  That's what "Nestle. Good Food, Good Life" is all about.  Nestle USA, with 2013 sales of $10 billion, is part of Nestle S.A. in Vevey, Switzerland — the world's largest food company with a commitment to Nutrition, Health & Wellness — with 2013 sales of $99 billion.  For product news and information, visit Nestleusa.com or Facebook.com/NestleUSA.

About Superior Grocers

Superior Grocers is one of the largest independently-owned chain of grocery stores serving Southern California since 1981. It currently operates 42 stores and it prides itself on providing Superior Quality, Superior Savings and Superior Value to the communities that it serves. Superior Grocers also believes in hiring from within its communities of service and is dedicated to engaging with local schools and non-profit organizations to promote a good education and health & wellness programs to benefit youth and its families. For more information about Superior Grocers, please visit www.superiorgrocers.com.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America

For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,000 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 57 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at BGCA's Facebook and Twitter.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140414/73105

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140414/73104

SOURCE Nestle USA