Make a Healthy Difference with California Pizza Kitchen and the Nestlé Balance Your Plate Initiative {#MyCPKPizza}

I am a member of the Balance Your Plate team and help spread the word about CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN® oven-ready pizzas. As a team member, I receive product and incentives in exchange for participating in brand-related activities.

Life as a mom can be fairly chaotic and somehow it never seems as though 24 hours is enough for one day. Whether it is during the school year and we're trying to fit in homework, sports and school or over the summer when we're driving from an activity to a lesson to the pool, by the time dinner rolls around, it isn't any wonder that our brains are fried.

But did you know that most Americans only meet the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for proper nutrition roughly seven days (that works out to only 2%) of the entire year? Ouch! Why is it so difficult to eat better?

Top reasons for not eating healthier include the cost and that it is time-consuming as well as complicated, but it's time to move past those excuses, isn't it? In fact, two-thirds of consumers want simple ways to follow the U.S. Dietary Guidelines with prepared and whole foods... but don't know where to look to find them.

Fortunately for all of us, Nestlé, a brand that has a presence in 70% of homes, feels a responsibility to help consumers meet U.S. Dietary Guidelines for nutritious wholesome meals and wants to help families eat better by un-complicating things. It's time that we all took part in the Nestlé Balance Your Plate initiative!

An educational campaign to help consumers build nutritious, delicious and convenient meals that meet U.S. Dietary Guidelines, Balance Your Plate suggests simple and affordable ways to more balanced nutrition throughout the day. These easy to follow meal plans provide recommendations for pairing frozen prepared foods with fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy for balanced meal planning.

That's right, frozen foods! As freezing is nature's "pause" button, vegetables that are picked at their peak of freshness retain the nutrients that are often lost by the time fresh produce is consumed. Many frozen options are also lower in sodium, saturated fat and calories than quick-service meals and national chain restaurants. In short, it is Freshly Made. Simply Frozen. and can be easily embraced!

At the same time, Balance Your Plate with Nestlé helps consumers find unique ways to integrate more nutrition throughout the day, while managing portions and calorie intake. For example, brands like California Pizza Kitchen use its packaging to suggest healthy meal pairings such as salads and steamed vegetables and easy to follow graphics to understand portion guidance.

This couldn't be much easier (or more tasty)!

We nearly always have a salad or steamed vegetables with our pizza, so I'm happy knowing that pairing a high quality frozen pizza from California Pizza Kitchen with veggies or fruit and a glass of low-fat milk is a great way to eat a balanced, delicious meal.

Have you tried a frozen pizza from California Pizza Kitchen recently? They're the perfect example of how a frozen entree can be the center of a nutritious meal due to their focus on high quality ingredients and unforgettable flavor!

As well as the premium ingredients (such as vine-ripened tomatoes, Fontina cheese and extra-virgin olive oil), there are a variety of crusts for taste buds of all kinds. Choose from Crispy Thin Crust, Artisan-style or Hand-Tossed Crust in delicious flavor profiles including The Works, BBQ Recipe Chicken with Bacon and California Style White flavor. There are even gluten-free options available!

We're pretty standard around here and tend to start with something simple such as California Pizza Kitchen's classic Margherita pizza.

Mmmm, mmmmmmm! 
.

After popping the pizza into the oven, I tend to turn to the fridge to whip up a fresh salad using the ingredients that we have on hand. However, I appreciate that California Pizza Kitchen gives ideas and inspiration right on the back of their pizza boxes and directs consumers to CPKfrozen.com for all sorts of delectable recipes and pairings.

But no matter what salad ingredients you end up choosing, you really can't go wrong with fresh veggies, juicy fruits and more!

All that is left is to check the serving size suggestion on the back of the package to be sure that you choose an appropriate portion size for your pizza.

Then, by making up your plate and ensuring that half of it is comprised of fresh vegetables and fruit, you can chow down knowing that the result fits right in with Balance Your Plate!

Ever tried pineapple on your pizza? I highly recommend it!

While it can be easy to see pizza as a "bad" or "junk" food, it (as well as other frozen prepared meals) can easily be part of a balanced, healthy meal and the center of a nutritious plate.

Be sure to find out more about the  Balance Your Plate with Nestlé initiative (including products, recipes and other helpful resources) as well as the huge variety of California Pizza Kitchen options waiting to star in your next meal. Bon appétit!