We’re Taking the Jennie-O Make The Switch Challenge – Will You?

Recently I learned that in the United States more than 17 million children are at risk for hunger.  Most of us can barely even comprehend a number that size.  Initially I just felt sad, but then it spurred me to look for ways to get involved and address the issue.

Fortunately I am not alone in my desire to help.  Champions for Kids is working mobilize 20 million people by 2012, so over the next few weeks, my family and I are going to be participating in a SIMPLE Service Project that will involve a food donation and nutritional education.  Our project is kind of a surprise as I finalize the details so more on that later!

For the month of May, Champions for Kids has partnered with Jennie-O to issue the Jennie-O Make The Switch Challenge.  Jennie-O encourages you to give up one unhealthy or unnecessary food or beverage and use the money you save to make a healthy food donation for kids.  They’ve put together a collection of suggestions and information about their challenge to help you get started.

I decided that in addition to giving something up to fund our donation, we would also make some healthier swaps in general.  I knew that Jennie-O had ground turkey but I wasn’t sure exactly all what they had to offer.  So prior to heading to the store, I visited their website to get an idea for what I might want to purchase.

Jennie-O Turkey Burgers & Dogs

On the drive to Walmart, I also gave my Mom a call to ask her if she had any Jennie-O suggestions.  She told me that I HAD to get their turkey breasts.  Apparently it’s the same one the caterer served at my brother’s wedding last fall, and it got rave reviews from a number of the guests.  I remembered it as being quite tasty, myself, so on the list it went.

Bubbles spied these lemons as we wound our way through the deli and she insisted we get them. Fortunately citrus and poultry compliment each other!

We entered Walmart right next to the deli and I remembered seeing on the Jennie-O website that they had deli products.  I found them almost all the way at the end of the counter just before the baked goods.  My hubby is always looking for new ideas for lunch; turkey breast on whole grain bread would make an excellent main course.    I placed my order for a pound of shaved mesquite smoked and went to cross a few more items off our list.

Jennie-O Deli Turkey

We looked in the fresh ground turkey section but struck out as they didn’t have any in the store.  Ditto that for turkey dogs and turkey burgers.  We did have some luck, though, in the frozen turkey section.  We found Oven Ready Turkey Breast that goes from freezer to oven to table.  We also found frozen ground turkey, frozen turkey sausage, and a few packages of frozen Turkey & Gravy.

Jennie-O Oven Ready Turkey Breast

Bubbles and I hit the bread isle where we picked up whole wheat bread, whole wheat english muffins, and so that I could make us some turkey burgers, a package of whole wheat buns.  I grabbed eggs and orange juice for breakfast, and then we made a quick swing by the frozen veggies for some peas to pair with the turkey breast.

Finally I grabbed a few sides and snacks: applesauce (mostly for Bubbles), string cheese, strawberries, apples and carrot sticks.  Kids (and adults) are way more apt to eat foods if they come with dip so I also picked up plain nonfat greek yogurt and a packet of ranch dressing (not dip) mix.  When you mix 1 cup of the yogurt with the dressing mix and 1/3 cup of 2% milk, you get an extremely yummy ranch dip that has less than 250 calories and 2 grams of fat in the entire recipe.

Our cart was getting quite full, but I had one more stop I needed to make.  Remember I mentioned that our project was going to include nutritional education?  I stopped by to pick up the supplies to create small recipe packets to distribute.  I want to be sure that they have some jumping off points for their healthy foods!

Hmm… should I use regular paper or cardstock?

See the little silver rings? Those are for the recipe packets. The salsa? That’s for the chili we’ll be making with turkey instead of beef!

Once we got home, I did what I do after most shopping trips: I made up the weekly menu.  This week I will be serving the following meals:

• Monday night: Turkey Dinner with Oven Ready Turkey Breast, peas, and roasted red potatoes
• Wednesday night: Chili made with ground turkey
• Friday night: Homemade turkey burgers with baked potato wedges

And of course the turkey sausage for breakfast.

Check out my entire shopping trip in my Google+ Story.

So, will you take the Jennie-O Make The Switch Challenge with me?  If so, what switch will you make and what organization in your community would you choose to support with your donation?

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. #JennieOCFK #CBias #SocialFabric  All opinions, as always, are 100% that of my family and myself.