Libby's Fruits and Vegetables and Feeding America Virtual Canned Food Drive

September is Get Back to the Table month. This year, Libby’s wants you to help families in need get back to the table through the Virtual Canned Food Drive supporting Feeding America.

At Libby’s Fruits and Vegetables, we passionately believe that every capable family should help those less fortunate. This is why we partnered with Feeding America for the second year in a row to empower you, your family and your community to give back to Americans who are food insecure.

The online food drive encourages families and friends to form teams and engage their communities to support them. Teams that raise $1,500 or more for Feeding America will get their pantries stocked with a year’s supply of canned vegetables from Libby’s. Individuals are also welcome to either form teams or simply donate.

In addition, Libby’s Fruits and Vegetables will match up to $40,000 of donations raised between now and Dec. 13, 2010, which will help provide 525,000 meals for families in need! As a thank-you, Libby’s will give every person who contributes to the Virtual Canned Food Drive a coupon for 50 cents off two cans of Libby’s Vegetables.

Every five dollars donated helps provide 35 meals for families struggling with hunger. This is a cause we hope everyone will stand behind!

FEEDING AMERICA FACTS

  • Today, one in six Americans is struggling with hunger.
  • Feeding America is the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity.
  • The Feeding America network includes more than 200 food banks that serve all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
  • The network distributes more than 2.5 billion pounds of food and groceries annually.
  • More than 700,000 people volunteer each year to help the Feeding America network feed the hungry.
  • More information is available at www.feedingamerica.org.

To donate to the Virtual Canned Food Drive or to create your own team, click here.

NO MORE MORNING RUSH: Save Yourself 25 Minutes Every Morning this School Year

Uh-oh, it's back-to-school time. While your kids are excited about seeing their friends, trying out new school supplies and going to after-school activities, you're back to getting everyone out the door on time.

So how do you manage lunches, get everyone dressed and make sure no homework is missing, all while still being able to fit in your cup of joe? The simple answer: a little extra legwork at night. Here's how you can save 25 minutes every morning:

Pack lunch the night before. Depending on how many lunches you're making, you could be losing up to 10 minutes every morning. Use the time right after dinner to put together everyone's lunch. Libby's Jumbo Cups™ keep you from dicing and packing fruit, saving you additional time. SAVED: 10 minutes.

Homework: filed and safe. Children are prone to forget things, so don't let them forget their homework. Every night after the pencils have been put away, make sure your kids put their finished homework in their backpack. That's one less note from the teacher. SAVED: 5 minutes.

Does this match? With the exception of the first day of school and picture day, trust your kids to dress themselves. Use this extra time to make your own coffee instead of buying it on the go. SAVED: 10 minutes.

Do you have a time-saving morning tip? Share it on Libby's Facebook page.
Are you cooking with Dexter? (or Kate or Josh?)

If you read the New York Times, chances are that you have come across "Cooking with Dexter", a wonderful little column about a man who frequently cooks with his son Dexter. Dexter is five years old, and the father and son embark on many funny and touching culinary adventures that ultimately bring them closer together.

So here's the big question - are you cooking with your kids and, more importantly, should you?

When was the last time you had a conversation with your teen? Yeah, exactly. Cooking encourages you to spend time together and catch up on each other's day.

You wouldn't send your kids out in the world without teaching them how to drive, would you? Cooking is a vital life skill. When your children grow up, they will thank you for teaching them how to fend for themselves. Now if only you could make them appreciate ballet...

You chop, I stir. Cooking encourages teamwork. Break down dinner into manageable tasks, and suddenly everyone is invested in the final result.

So that's what a calorie is! We're always talking about eating healthy, but actually making your own meals puts things in perspective. When kids can see exactly what they're putting into their bodies, they'll understand nutrition a lot better than if they read about it in a textbook.

Making mistakes and burning the potatoes together is half the fun. The best thing about cooking with your kids is that neither of you has to be a culinary genius to do it. And now, nobody can complain that they don't like what's for dinner.


























Hannah Keeley, Libby’s spokesperson and star of Hannah, Help Me! cooks regularly with her kids.



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Mexacali Turkey on a Bun

Tired of the same dinners every night? Check out these new Libby's recipes - they're affordable, convenient and most of all - delicious!

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