GOT SNACKS?

Making poor nutritional choices like grabbing a candy bar or sweetened beverage - can be easy and tempting, especially for kids. With snacks accounting for nearly a third of calories in children's diets[1], however, these "handy options" don't provide the vitamins and nutrients kids need for healthy growth. Furthermore, the National Institutes of Child Health report that almost 90 percent of girls and more than 80 percent of boys ages nine to 13 have inadequate calcium intake[2]. To help combat these growing trends and in observance of National Nutrition Month, the California Milk Processor Board (CMPB), the creator of got milk?, has partnered with former Disney Chef Gino Campagna to inform families about making healthy food choices and offer solutions kids themselves can implement. This month, got milk? will sponsor FREE children's cooking classes, led by Chef Gino, at select local community organizations throughout California to teach them how to prepare calcium-rich after-school snacks.

"We need to engage our kids in grocery shopping and cooking at a young age so that healthy habits stick with them through life," says Chef Gino, Master Chef at Piccolo Chef, an award-winning children's cooking school. "Fruits, veggies and low fat milk can be incorporated into easy to make snacks that provide kids the nutrients they need."

Chef Gino, who's also worked with Michelle Obama's "Chefs Move To Schools" program and Jamie Oliver's The Food Revolution, will teach local kids how to make some of his favorite after-school snack recipes. Children six to 12 years old throughout California will have a chance to make snacks alongside Chef Gino by signing up for a FREE cooking class sponsored by got milk? at their local community center.

Fresno Tuesday 3/4/14 3:30 p.m.
Central Valley After-school site, Rowell Elementary
3460 E. McKenzie Avenue, Fresno, CA 93702

Sacramento Wednesday 3/5/14 4 p.m.
Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services
3333 Third Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95817

San Diego Thursday 3/13/14 from 3 p.m.
Copley Family YMCA
3901 Landis Street, San Diego, CA 92105

San Francisco Friday 3/14/14 3:30 p.m.
Mission Neighborhood Centers, Precita Valley Community Center
534 Precita Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94110

Los Angeles Wednesday 3/19/14 3 p.m.
L.A.'s BEST school site

Palm Springs Thursday 3/20/14 3:30 p.m.
Desert Recreation District - Palm Desert Community Center
43-900 San Pablo Avenue, Palm Desert, CA 92260

To R.S.V.P. email press@gotmilk.com or call (310) 473-4422. Space is limited. Each attendee will receive a got milk? apron and a special gift for participating.

"Chef Gino is sure to remind kids that cooking can be fun, tasty and healthy," says Steve James, executive director of the CMPB. "With key power foods such as milk, children will also get the necessary calcium and nutrients they need for proper development."

To register for the free got milk? National Nutrition Month Kids' Cooking Classes or to learn more about Chef Gino's milk-based after-school snacks recipes like the delicious Veggie Pizzaz and Tiramisu Parfait , visit www.gotmilk.com.

About the CMPB
The California Milk Processor Board was established in 1993 to make milk more competitive and increase milk consumption in California. Awareness of got milk? is over 90% nationally and it is considered one of the most important and successful campaigns in history. Got milk? is a federally registered trademark that has been licensed by the national dairy boards since 1995. The CMPB's Spanish-language campaign began in 1994 using the tagline "Familia, Amor y Leche" (Family, Love and Milk). The TOMA LECHE (Drink Milk) campaign replaced it in 2006, following a growing trend in Hispanic food advertising that uses wit and humor to reach audiences. Got milk? gifts and recipes can be viewed at www.gotmilk.com and www.tomaleche.com. The CMPB is funded by all California milk processors and administered by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

About Gino Campagna and Piccolo Chef
Culinary instructor Gino Campagna has dedicated his life to teaching children how to appreciate and prepare great food. Chef Gino believes that spending time cooking with children provides them with important skills, lifelong awareness and culinary appreciation.In 2008, the host of popular TV shows such as La Prova de Cuoco, Gambero Rosso and Gino's Kitchen on the Disney Channel as well as KitchenDaily.com's Kitchen Kids joined Piccolo Chef, Italian for Little Chef, an award-winning children's cooking school that teaches children cooking, recipes and fosters values such as creativity, confidence, patience and teamwork.

In addition to serving as Executive Chef for Piccolo Chef, Chef Gino has been an integral part of Michelle Obama's program "Chef Moves to Schools" and Jamie Oliver's The Food Revolution. For more info on Chef Gino and Piccolo Chef visit www.piccolochef.com. To learn more about Chef Gino's philosophy of good food, fun and togetherness, visit www.huffingtonpost.com/gino-campagna/.

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