Top Three Reasons to Cook with Canned Foods during Back-to-School Time

During the back-to-school season, the dinner table is often overlooked, as more time is dedicated to homework, carpooling and after-school activities. But when you have a well-stocked pantry – or “Cantry ” – you can make nutritious, homemade, A+ meals a reality every day! Read on for reasons to cook with canned foods.

Cans Get You Cooking is here to help you unlock the goodness of canned foods and get you cooking on even the busiest back-to-school nights! Here are just three reasons why we think canned foods should have a place at your table:

1. Fresh fruits and vegetables are harvested and canned at their peak of ripeness, sealing in their nutrition, freshness and flavor, making the can one of the best ways to get food from its source to your family table. Studies also show that canned produce is on par nutritionally with fresh and frozen varieties, and in some cases even better!
2. When you eat canned foods, you’re more likely to consume the food groups highlighted in USDA’s MyPlate healthy eating guidelines. MyPlate recommends comprising each meal with about one-quarter protein, one-quarter grains (preferably whole grains) and half fruits and vegetables. Keeping your “Cantry” full of canned fruits, vegetables and proteins (like chicken and tuna) can help you meet these guidelines at every meal. Have a picky eater at home? Follow these Kid Tested, Mom Approved tips from Cans Get You Cooking to win them over!
3. Americans throw away approximately 15–20% of the fresh fruits and vegetables they purchase every year. Because most recipes are designed specifically around canned food portion sizes, canned foods help waste less food, saving time and money, and reducing our impact on the environment.

To learn more about the benefits of canned foods and for some easy, homemade recipe ideas, you can join the #CansGetYouCooking Twitter party hosted by @TheMotherhood with special guest @CansGetUCooking and RD @MarieSpano on Tuesday, August 18 at 8 p.m. ET.

We’ll be giving away four Cans Get You Cooking prize packs that includes a Cans Get You Cooking branded apron, tote bag, can strainer and a $25 Visa gift card. One grand prize winner will receive a Cans Get You Cooking prize pack and a $50 Visa gift card.