UNCLE BEN'S® And Tiffani Thiessen Challenge Families To Create Memories In The Kitchen Through BEN'S BEGINNERS Program

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Families are increasingly strapped for time, leaving parents to settle for a quick fix when it comes to meals. But, research shows that children who cook and eat with their families tend to consume healthier foods, have healthier eating habits as adults, and have higher academic achievement. Inspiring families to spend more time together in the kitchen, the UNCLE BEN'S® BEN'S BEGINNERS™ Cooking Contest – now in its sixth year – has teamed up with Tiffani Thiessen, mom, actress, cook and lifestyle expert.  

The BEN'S BEGINNERS™ program is part of a movement driven by the UNCLE BEN'S® Brand to help kids learn the essential life skill of cooking as well as they learn how to read and write. Since launching in 2012, the UNCLE BEN'S BEN'S BEGINNERS™ program has motivated thousands of families to cook together and has donated $715,000 to children and schools across the country to create healthier local communities.

"We're passionate about getting families to cook together and the BEN'S BEGINNERS™ program is a platform dedicated to do just that," said Manish Amin, Senior Brand Manager, UNCLE BEN'S®. "One of the core imperatives at the heart of the UNCLE BEN'S® Brand is to inspire shared meals. It's part of our culture and something we take great pride in rolling out to consumers each year."

Beginning today, parents with kids in Kindergarten through eighth grade can submit a photo of their family preparing a rice-based dish together using #BensBeginners. Participants in the BEN'S BEGINNERS™ Cooking Contest will enter for the chance to win one of five Grand Prize packages, which includes $15,000 cash, a $30,000 cafeteria makeover for their child's school and a hometown celebration. Submissions will be accepted on unclebens.com until 11:59p.m. ET on October 9, 2017. The BEN'S BEGINNERS™ Cooking Contest offers an exciting way for parents and kids to make lifelong memories in the kitchen as they cook for the chance to better their community and school with a single dish.

As the host of the Cooking Channel's "Dinner at Tiffani's", and upcoming Netflix series Alexa & Katie, actress Tiffani Thiessen is bringing her passion for cooking with her family to life. To complement this work, Tiffani is building awareness of the importance of healthy eating and culinary education by challenging families across the United States to join The BEN'S BEGINNERS ™ Movement.  

"Spending time with my kids in the kitchen is so much more than following recipes to put food on the table," said Tiffani Thiessen. "I love teaching my kids the fundamentals - like how to measure and prepare meals. In our home, cooking together is about inspiring creativity, learning healthy habits and building lasting memories as a family."

The BEN'S BEGINNERS™ program and its Digital Hub provide interactive step-by-step instructions and family-friendly recipes to bring families together in a fun, unique way. Families will learn to cook and prepare dishes together through online lessons that combine interactive skill learning – like stirring, chopping, pouring and measuring – with related recipes like Tangy Buffalo Chicken Rice Bowl, Sunshine Egg and Rice Quesadilla and Veggie Pizza with Crispy Rice Crust. Along the way, users will be encouraged to take a family photo of their creations and share on social media using #BensBeginners.

About the UNCLE BEN'S® Brand

The UNCLE BEN'S® Brand, the number one rice brand in the world, is proud to offer a wide range of rice dishes with flavors and textures that will help bring more to your meals, both for savory main courses and convenient side dishes. The UNCLE BEN'S® Brand offers a wide variety of white, whole grain brown, and flavored rices in cook times ranging from 30 minutes to 90 seconds, as well as rice for food service operations such as restaurants, schools and hospitals. The first mass-produced parboiled rice, UNCLE BEN'S® Brand products can be found in more than 100 countries worldwide. The UNCLE BEN'S® Brand products are manufactured by Mars Food, part of Mars, Incorporated. For more information, visit www.unclebens.com.

SOURCE UNCLE BEN’S Brand

Related Links

https://www.unclebens.com