SCARBOROUGH, Maine – Hannaford Supermarkets is helping children build lifelong healthy eating habits while benefitting the community through its new Snack Pals Plates program.

From now through October 31, customers can purchase a colorful Snack Pals Plate located in special displays in the produce section at all Hannaford stores. Plates are two for $5. Each Snack Pals Plate purchase results in a donation to a local hunger relief organization in the store’s community. The program is anticipated to provide funds for 100,000 meals for families experiencing food insecurity across New England and New York.

The plates feature illustrations of fun Snack Pals characters and offer nutritional guidance for a well-balanced meal with four quadrants allocating space for fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. The plates also include helpful tips such as “filling half your plate with fruits and vegetables.”

“We’re excited to introduce this program which not only serves as an engaging tool to foster healthy eating habits for children, but also supports hunger relief efforts in our communities,” said Allison Stowell, registered dietitian for Hannaford Supermarkets. “With colorful designs and charming characters that help kids visualize a well-balanced meal, the plates make mealtimes more exciting while teaching children to reach for nutritious foods and snacks.”

The plates are an extension of the Hannaford Snack Pals program – a group of fun food characters that teach kids about healthy eating habits. The Hannaford Snack Pals website features interactive games, food-themed crafts, nutritious recipes, tips and resources to learn about healthy eating habits.

Customers can also enjoy Hannaford’s selection of fresh, convenient and individually packaged Snack Pals offerings, such as grapes and cheese; cucumber, red peppers and ranch dip; or freshly-cut watermelon cups.

For more information on Hannaford Snack Pals, visit HannafordSnackPals.com.