Meijer serves up nutritional resource for food pantries
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer is responding to a need from food pantries for nutrition education resources by publishing a cookbook that features recipes using ingredients frequently found in food pantries.
The retailer has distributed English and Spanish versions of Simply Cook to its food bank and pantry partners across the Midwest. During the holiday season, food banks see a tremendous increase in demand of free meals per day.
"As the challenge of fighting hunger continues in all of the communities we serve, it's more important than ever to come together to help our neighbors make ends meet," said Janet Emerson, executive vice president of retail operations. "Through the years, our Simply Give and food rescue programs have helped fill a void. We are pleased to continue our commitment to hunger relief through the Simply Cook book."
The 48-page cookbook contains:
Nutrition education: How to read food labels, and how to fill your plate well using the MyPlate federal guideline.
Meal planning tips and solutions: Use a calendar, make a list, and use leftovers in different recipes on another night. The book also includes a two-week meal planner.
Food myths: Reveals the truth about the top most common food myths, including it's too costly to eat healthy.
Kitchen basics: Basic and affordable cooking tools like a food thermometer and a pan, as well as pantry staples like rice, pasta, and canned or dried beans.
Food safety and storage tips: Fight food spoilage from bacteria and foodborne illnesses with proper food storage.
Quick and easy recipes: Basic, healthy recipes using ingredients frequently found on food pantry shelves, including potatoes, tuna, beans, and canned vegetables and chicken. Recipes for breakfast, lunch, snack time and dinner. The book also includes a month of quick, easy dinner menus, and how to transform leftovers into a new meal.
Shopping lists: Compiles the ingredients used in the monthly dinner menu. Meijer operates 213 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.