This is a sponsored post in partnership with the Truvia® brand and their commitment to sustainability. However, all opinions are my own and I only accept sponsored posts that personally speak to me, as this one does.
How does your morning start? If you have school aged children, it might look something like mine.
I walk downstairs later than I usually should because I don’t do mornings well. Evan is finally at the point where he will brush his teeth and get dressed so he has time for a few video games in the morning. If we have enough time, I might make eggs and toast but some mornings, we settle for a bowl of cereal and some cottage cheese (for protein, of course).
It’s usually at this point that I’m rushing to get his lunch made (he hates the school cafeteria food) and we either chat or he checks out his latest electronic. But I always make sure I send him to school with a full tummy.
While he’s eating breakfast, it’s my job to create a filling yet nutritious lunch. I don’t get points for creativity but he eats everything I pack him. On this particular day: turkey and cheese on wheat bread, 100 calorie pack of pretzels, popcorn, applesauce pouch, and a frozen organic Greek yogurt tube.
Lunch packed, breakfast eaten, rush out the door and make it to the parent drop off just before they close the doors.
How does that compare to your morning? Frantic? Rushed? As parents, we’re making sure our kids are healthy while we remember their library books, recorder for music class, and that form we were supposed to sign two days ago.
But my favorite mornings are when we have a few extra minutes to sip our tea together. Evan takes his just like mine: strong, freshly brewed black tea, with a splash of organic skim milk, and exactly one packet of Truvia.
Some mornings, when I have time to reflect, I think about kids who aren’t as fortunate – those that have difficult journeys just to have the privilege of education and those that are grateful just to go to school in order to have an adequate meal.
Truvia believes in some of the same things which is why they’ve continued to partner with the United Nations World Food Programme, aiming to combat childhood hunger in Bolivia.
Launched in 2012, “Sharing a Sweet Future” is a three-year partnership between Truvia and theWorld Food Programme that aims to combat childhood hunger in Bolivia. Why Bolivia? Nearly 40 percent of the Bolivian population are unable to afford adequate food for a healthy life and 65 percent of all rural households are unable to afford the minimum recommended caloric intake.
Since the partnership began, nearly $1 million in contributions from the Truvia brand have been used to help reduce childhood hunger in Bolivia, a region of critical need with one of the highest rates of nutritional deficiencies in South America.
Through its 3-year partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme, the Truvia brand has:
- Improved school meals for over 67,000 Bolivian schoolchildren
- Installed 258 energy efficient stoves
- Supplied 130 metric tons of fortified vegetable oil to cook 2 school meals per day
Being able to send our children to school without worry of going hungry is a privilege we may not often think about. While the numbers tell a great story for the success of the partnership, it’s the testimonials from the faculty, students, and parents that tell the real story.
“Nicolas Flores attends the 5th grade in the Huapi School in the Municipality of Poroma. Among other things, he says that he and his sister and brother are continuing their studies thanks to the school feeding program, as only his mother is supporting them.” – Ramiro Alvino, Field Monitor
“Truvia’s support came at a time when we didn’t have any resources, and were almost going to close this type of program.” – Sergio Torres, head of Bolivia operations for the WFP
“The [students’ and teachers’] lunch ingredients were often sourced from local farmers, “helping lift those farmers out of chronic hunger and poverty themselves.” – Rick Leach, President and CEO of the World Food Program USA
Personally, I’ve been using Truvia for years simply because I like the taste but knowing that Truvia brand has a comprehensive corporate responsibility program that includes the “Sharing A Sweet Future” campaign gives me great breakfast conversation to share with my son.
As the leading stevia brand, the company is committed to sourcing responsibly, stewarding natural resources and working to improve communities. All things I can get behind. Want to take a closer look at their impact? Check out the infographic below (click on image for larger detail!).