Lunchtime Learning: Explore cultural cuisine this school season

Whirlpool Canada Survey Suggests lunchtime at school can be stressful for new Canadians

TORONTO, Aug. 30, 2017 /CNW/ - With the school year ahead of us, lunchtime can be daunting. Many children quickly get bored of typical lunchtime ingredients, not to mention mornings can feel rushed when lunch preparations aren't going as planned. For families who are new to Canada, this can be an even trickier time: a recent survey conducted for Whirlpool Canada found half of Canadians surveyed believe for a child who is new to Canada, lunchtime at school can be a stressful situation. Four in 10 imagine children who bring ethnic lunches to school might get teased.

However, school lunches can also be a great opportunity to introduce children to new foods, understand and respect foods from a variety of cultures and encourage a little independence. In fact, the survey also showed 70 per cent of Canadians surveyed agree giving children an opportunity to try dishes from different cultures is a good way to encourage mutual understanding and respect.

To make the most of lunchtime meal prep and help families, children and classmates bond over a variety of tasty foods, Emma Waverman, writer and co-author of Whining and Dining: Mealtime Survival for Picky Eaters and Families Who Love Them, shares the following tips:

• Make it quality time. Time spent cooking with your kids gives you the chance to connect and work together each day. They love to be empowered and will feel happy to be included. Children often like a hot lunch once or twice a week, so making this prep time into quality time will help your child feel involved in the process and appreciative of the opportunity to work alongside their parents.
  
  
• Encourage independence. Kids involved in the process will feel confident and independent, even if their involvement is as simple as packing their lunch. Start by finding a role in the kitchen suitable for your children, such as bagging lunches, washing fruits and veggies or coming up with ideas for next week's meals. The new Whirlpool® door-within-door refrigerator has flexible storage options and offers quick access to your child's lunch picks.
  
  
• Sample something new. Inspire your kids by selecting new meals you would both like to try. Have them get involved in the food selection process and introduce new foods on a regular basis. Your kids may draw inspiration from their fellow classmates for meals to try or they may look to you for guidance. Trying new foods is a great way to keep lunches exciting.

"At Whirlpool, we understand the care parents and caregivers put into preparing meals day-in and day-out for their families," says Michelle Domet, senior marketing manager at Whirlpool Canada. "We believe acts of care, such as preparing school lunches, have a lasting impact that carries over generations. This care continues to inspire us to bring innovative and technologically advanced appliances to market to help families and their every day routines."

Emma and her special guests, Abeer and Sama Al-Salihi will share back-to-school lunch tips during a Facebook Live session on September 14.

About the Survey
The national online survey of 1,809 Canadians was conducted from May 12^th to 23^rd, 2017. The data was weighted to Census population figures to achieve representation for age, region and gender. The margin of error associated with a probability based sample of 1,809 is 2.3%, 19 times out of 20.

About Whirlpool Brand
For more than one hundred years, Whirlpool brand has been inspired by how people care for their families.  Whirlpool brand is designing home appliances that are focused on improving how families give and get the care they need with the latest technologies and innovations – whether that means flexible refrigerator storage for all types of family needs, induction technology for efficient cooking and easier cleaning, or laundry pairs that sense and adapt to clothes with the latest in connected technologies. Whirlpool brand is part of Whirlpool Corporation, the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances., Whirlpool Canada is a longstanding partner of Habitat for Humanity, donating a refrigerator and range to every new Habitat for Humanity home built in Canada. For more information on Whirlpool, please visit whirlpool.ca/everydaycare or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/whirlpoolcanada or Twitter at @Whirlpool_CA.  Additional information about the company can be found at whirlpoolcanada.com and about Whirlpool brand at whirlpool.ca

SOURCE Whirlpool Canada LP

For further information: Raquel Amaral, Hill+Knowlton Strategies for Whirlpool Canada, 416 413 4634, raquel.amaral@hkstrategies.ca