One of the great things about Libby’s Fruits & Vegetables is that cans are always in season! The new year is right around the corner, and a common goal is to make healthier choices while still eating the food you love. Kick off 2013 the right way with some great recipe ideas from www.getbacktothetable.com that will enhance your meals throughout the entire year.

Start the year with a fresh outlook
The new year calls for celebrating fresh starts. Host a gathering that reflects the beginning of the year and of the day – brunch! Libby’s Cheesy Brunch Casserole is piled with vegetables to jump-start your healthy eating in 2013. Your family members will be grateful for your help in upholding their new year’s resolutions.

Toss some salad in the weekly mix
Help your kids stay active and maintain a balanced diet by tossing up delicious and creative meals that are also packed with nutrients. Plan a salad night at least once a week, and make interesting salads like our Grilled Beet & Peach Spinach Salad. Your kids will love salad after trying this masterpiece!

Grill your way to good health
Grilling’s not just for summer backyard BBQs!  You can enjoy this healthy and easy style of cooking any time of the year.  Just use a stovetop grill to make Libby’s Apricot Glazed Chicken Kabobs and you can enjoy these sweet and savory treats during any season!

Prepare easy meals for busy families
After winter break has come and gone, your children will resume their science projects, piano lessons and play dates. For a quick meal on a school day or any day, try our Pear & Colby Panini recipe. It’s an updated twist on the longstanding favorite grilled cheese lunch that your family will be sure to love.

We know the new year will be just as exciting as 2012, and we wish your family a healthy and happy 2013, filled with great food!

Although she won Olympic gold medals, played midfielder for the California Storm and worked with a girls' mentoring organization called the ReachuP! Foundation, international soccer star Brandi Chastain is first and foremost a mom. Throughout her career as one of the most well-known women's soccer players in the world, Brandi discovered the most effective ways to keep kids healthy and active.

Hydrate to perform great. Kids should drink water before, during AND after exercise. While exercise generates heat and increases the body's core temperature, water works to bring body temperature back to the normal 98.6oF. Let your child pick out a colorful water bottle to make drinking water fun!

Always make time for healthy meals. The USDA says that half our plates should be filled with colorful fruits and veggies, but when your children are constantly running from school to practice and back, it can be tough to get them to eat that perfect meal. Add Libby's® Single Fruit Cups, which contain one complete serving of fruit, to your children's bags for an easy and nutritious snack.  

Sleep is important! Children should receive an average of eight hours of sleep each night. Without enough sleep children get cranky and lazy, and will not perform to their full potential during school, practice or games. Help your children stick to a regular sleep schedule by making bedtime fun - read them a story or sing a song while they fall asleep.

Turn exercise into a family affair. When exercising is a solo act, it can sometimes feel like a chore. Bring the whole family on-board and make exercising fun, family time! Join your kids in a game of soccer, Double Dutch or kickball.

Lead by example. When you set a good example, your kids are more likely to follow. Although it's easy to stop at the drive-thru on the way home from practice, make an effort to eat well and live a healthy lifestyle. Become a role model by exercising regularly and eating healthy foods, like Libby's® Single Fruit Cups, with your children. It's easier when you make it a team effort!  

Libby's will pair up with Brandi for three weekend soccer clinics with recreational leagues across the Northeast. Follow her whereabouts on our Facebook and Twitter!

You can purchase Libby's® Single Fruit Cups at the following retailers:

• In Buffalo, NY: Tops
• In Hartford, CT, and Providence, RI: Stop & Shop, Shaw's, Big Y and Dave's Marketplace