U.S. Potato Board and The Kids Cook Monday Release Family-Friendly Cookbook
Denver, CO. (May X, 2015) – The United States Potato Board (USPB) recognizes the opportunity that retailers have by encouraging families to eat together more frequently, as it can boost potato sales along with overall grocery purchases. That’s why the USPB has partnered with The Kids Cook Monday (TKCM) to publish 52 Mondays, a potato recipe cookbook targeted specifically to families. Available as an e-cookbook on potatoretailer.com, it features potato dishes to enjoy every Monday for a full year.
TKCM and USPB put their heads together last fall to identify the most delicious and nutritious, family-oriented potato recipes families can enjoy cooking and eating together at home, even on a busy weeknight. 52 Mondays features clear recipe categories and signature “Kid/Adult/Together” preparation instructions to help turn every child into the family’s sous chef. With recipes for every age and all taste preferences, kids will have a special sense of accomplishment knowing they helped put dinner on the family table – and be more willing to then sit down with their parents to enjoy the meal.
“We are so proud to partner with The Kids Cook Monday,” said Meredith Myers, USPB Global Consumer Marketing Manager. “Research shows when children are exposed to cooking fresh foods from a young age, they are more likely to make healthy dietary choices later in life. So, why not learn to cook their favorite vegetable early?”
Exposure to scratch cooking also helps kids develop a mature palate and a taste for fresh, wholesome ingredients – a boon for retailer’s produce and perishable sales. The earlier kids become accustomed to nutritious foods (like potatoes), the less likely they will acquire a taste for processed foods. Potatoes are natural, fresh and nutrition-packed; one medium size, skin-on potato has just 110 calories per serving, with more potassium than a banana and providing almost half the daily value of vitamin C with no fat, sodium or cholesterol.
With so many recipes and potato types to choose from (russets, reds, yellows, whites, purples, fingerlings and petites), kids and parents can work together to keep dinner fun and exciting, 52 weeks a year! Retailers can capitalize on this one-of-a-kind publication to promote potatoes by showcasing recipes from the cookbook, or even offering their shoppers digital downloads of the e-cookbook on their own websites and social media destinations.
Ready to get cooking? Try the following recipe for Mediterranean Lemon Chicken and Potato Packets, a perfect quick dinner for the grill. For more recipes or to download the cookbook, visit www.potatoretailer.com.
Mediterranean Lemon Chicken and Potatoes
Prep time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes
- 1 1/2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 lb. Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
- 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
- 1/2 cup reduced-fat Greek or olive oil vinaigrette
- 1/3 cup quartered Kalamata olives (optional)
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/2 cup chopped tomato
Family Directions:
Kids: Mix all ingredients except tomatoes in a large bowl.
Kids: Place equal amounts onto 4 large squares of heavy-duty foil.
Together: Fold in top and sides of each to enclose filling, leaving room for air to circulate.
Adult: Grill over medium heat for about 25 to 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and potatoes are soft.
Together: Carefully open packets and sprinkle equal amounts of tomato over each.
This dish is delicious topped with crumbled feta cheese just before serving.
Makes 4 servings.
Note: Packets may also be baked at 400°F for 30 minutes instead of grilling.
Nutritional analysis per serving:
Per serving: Calories 349, Fat: 8 g, Cholesterol: 126 mg, Sodium: 1176 mg, Carbohydrates: 27 g, Fiber: 3 g, Potassium: 707 mg, Protein: 41 g, Vitamin C: 38%
About the United States Potato Board
The United States Potato Board (USPB) is the nation’s potato marketing and research organization. Based in Denver, Colorado, the USPB represents more than 2,500 potato growers and handlers across the country. The USPB was established in 1971 by a group of potato growers to promote the benefits of eating potatoes. Today, as the largest vegetable commodity board, the USPB is proud to be recognized as an innovator in the produce industry and dedicated to positioning potatoes as a nutrition powerhouse—truly, goodness unearthed.
About The Kids Cook Monday
The Kids Cook Monday is an initiative of The Monday Campaigns, a nonprofit public health initiative in association with Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Maxwell School at Syracuse University. Founded on research that demonstrates Monday is the day consumers are most likely to introduce healthy changes, the organization seeks to establish Monday as the day “all health breaks loose.” The Kids Cook Monday campaign launched in 2011 and continues to promote a simple message to households worldwide: “start your week off right, make Monday family night!”
