Sunday is grocery day in my home! After clipping the latest coupons, meal planning and making a list, we head to our local Super Walmart to restock the pantry for the week. While I try to keep the family on track, it is easy to deviate from our list. Impulse buys are one of our vices, especially when the kids are along for the trip. What was supposed to be a simple grocery run can easily turn into a full basket, half of which we didn’t really need.
What if you gave up one thing in your basket each week and saved the money to make a difference for a child in need? This week, as I looked over our purchases, there were many things I knew we could live without…namely, OREOs. Oh yes, I love the white creamy filling, but the money saved could be used to donate healthy items to those who need it most.
After Hurricane Katrina took our home and entire City, I found myself in a place I never thought I would be…the food stamp line. It was an incredibly humbling experience which has instilled a sense of charity in me forever. My oldest child was just 6 months old at the time, so she has no recollection of our post-Katrina lives, so I try to convey to her the importance of giving back. Today, I am introducing the “Jennie-O Make The Switch Challenge!”
Jennie-O is working with Champions for Kids to challenge families to give up one purchase this month and use the saved money to donate a healthy item to a local charity. Champions for Kids wants to mobilize one MILLION people by the year 2020 to make a difference in the life of a child! Our family has decided to give up our beloved OREOs for the month of May. With our savings, we will be purchasing some non-perishable food items and delivering them to Second Harvesters Food Bank in New Orleans who has done so much to help this City.
Because we are giving up a sugary snack, I decided to see how we could make other “healthy switches” with Jennie-O. Admittedly, my family loves bacon…and there is definitely no shortage of bacon options at our local Walmart. Jennie-O offers turkey bacon, so I am making the switch and will be trying it soon. In fact, did you know that turkey is a great source of protein providing more protein per gram that both chicken and beef? Huh. If all goes well, I may even be inspired to switch our ground beef for Jennie-O ground turkey on our next Taco Tuesday!
Check out my entire path to purchase shopping experience on Google +!
Will you take the Jennie-O Make the Switch Challenge? What could your family give up this month in order to make a difference? Let me know by tweeting with the hashtag #JennieOCFK! Follow @Champions4Kids on Twitter and Champions for Kids on Facebook to learn more ways to get involved.
What a great idea! I could have given up the pop tarts I bought my kids.
This month’s Champions for Kids challenge, sponsored by Jennie-O , is to make a switch to healthier food choices. Not only will this provide my family with the benefit of a healthy meal, we’ll be tracking our savings from not purchasing such items as (gulp) soda and switching to more turkey-based products like the ones made by Jennie-O.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with need, from the events surrounding Hurricane Katrina. Just thinking of what you and all the others endured and the rebuilding that is still occurring makes my heart bleed. I’m so glad your donation will benefit those still in need in New Orleans 🙂