CHICAGO, Oct. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- For the 32.4 million children growing up in low-income families[1], having the learning tools to eat or cook healthy meals can be a challenge. In honor of National Childhood Nutrition Day (October 16), Quaker is partnering with Common Threads to fund Family Cooking Classes for the 2016-2017 school year and to add breakfast lessons, making nutrition education available for all meals of the day. These classes bring students and parents together through hands-on learning in the kitchen where they learn how to cook nutritious and economic meals.

"Both through my role at Quaker and as a mom of three, I understand the importance of good nutrition and delivering the best start to every day with a wholesome, whole grain breakfast," said Becky Frankiewicz, senior vice president and general manager of Quaker Foods North America. "I am inspired by the unique impact that Common Threads classes make on the children and families who participate and look forward to empowering even more children to be agents of change for improving family eating habits, including eating a nutritious breakfast."

Tapping into Quaker's nearly 140 years of whole grain oat and breakfast expertise, the new lessons will provide participants with the knowledge and skills needed to prepare a healthier breakfast every day, which is an important health-based curriculum outcome identified by the CDC[2]. The Family Cooking Classes, kicking off in schools across the country this month, also aim to bring parents and their children together in the kitchen to build positive family memories.

Reaching More Families with Nutrition Education

Quaker has teamed up with chef, mother and registered dietitian, Frances Largeman-Roth, and Upworthy to produce a series of videos and editorial content spotlighting Common Threads' families and the impact Common Threads has had on their lives.

"Cooking together doesn't have to be complicated. Breakfast can be one of the best and easiest opportunities to teach kids to combine fruit, whole grains and protein to fuel them for a great start to their day," said Largeman-Roth. "Partnering with Quaker and Common Threads was a natural fit for me, as it combines my love of family and healthy cooking." To access Largeman-Roth's oat-inspired recipe, plus others from the new breakfast lessons, visit Common Threads' new online learning tool at www.commonbytes.org.

To witness the real-life story of one of Common Threads' students and his family work their magic in the kitchen, visit here.

For more information about Quaker, visit www.QuakerOats.com, www.Facebook.com/Quaker or follow the brand on Twitter @Quaker. To learn more about Common Threads and see how you can get involved, visit www.CommonThreads.org.

Suggested Tweets:

• @Quaker is teaming up with @Common_Threads to bring families first-ever breakfast education lessons http://bit.ly/2e1mn3p
• See how one student brings his family together in the kitchen to cook healthier meals @Quaker @Common_Threads http://bit.ly/2e1mn3p
• Kick off National Childhood Nutrition Day with a nutritious family breakfast, recipe created by @FrancesLRothRD and @Quaker http://bit.ly/2dVRrmo

About The Quaker® Oats Company 

The Quaker Oats Company, headquartered in Chicago, is a unit of PepsiCo, Inc., one of the world's largest consumer packaged goods companies. For more than 130 years, Quaker's brands have served as symbols of quality, great taste and nutrition. Holding leadership positions in their respective categories, Quaker® Oats, Quaker® Rice Cakes and Quaker Chewy® Granola Bars are consumer favorites. For more information, please visit www.QuakerOats.com, www.Facebook.com/Quaker or follow us on Twitter @Quaker.

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $66 billion in net revenue in 2014, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose – our goal to deliver top-tier financial performance while creating sustainable growth and shareholder value. In practice, Performance with Purpose means providing a wide range of foods and beverages from treats to healthy eats; finding innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment and reduce our operating costs; providing a safe and inclusive workplace for our employees globally; and respecting, supporting and investing in the local communities where we operate. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.

Follow PepsiCo:

• Twitter (@PepsiCo)
• Facebook
• PepsiCo Press Releases
• PepsiCo Multimedia
• PepsiCo Videos

About Common Threads

Founded by Celebrity Chef Art Smith and his partner artist Jesus Salgueiro in 2003, Common Threads educates children on the importance of nutrition and physical well-being, empowering them to be change agents in their families, schools and communities across the country. By providing children with a toolkit of knowledge and skills, Common Threads' programs help prevent childhood obesity and reverse the trend of generations of non-cookers, getting America's kids cooking for life! To learn more, visit www.commonthreads.org.

About Upworthy:

Upworthy is a mission-driven, video-first media company, founded in 2012 by Eli Pariser and Peter Koechley. Upworthy has since become the fastest-growing media company in the U.S., and this year pivoted toward creating purposeful video stories that create empathy, change the way people see the world, and inspire them to share meaningful content. People share Upworthy stories more often than those from the top 25 publishers, according to NewsWhip. Upworthy often partners with brands to create content, and in July 2016 Upworthy videos received more than 330 million views. 

[1]  Commonthreads.org

[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Healthy Eating Curriculum.

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