Nick Lachey and Subway encourage families to love those ugly vegetables

Nick Lachey and Subway want vegetables, no matter their appearance, to be centerstage on every family’s plate and they are helping Feeding America do that.

Can you love an ugly vegetable? Nick Lachey and Subway think that beauty, great taste and good nutrition is in the eye of the beholder. When it comes to nutrition, appearance doesn’t matter. Whether it is gnarly carrot or a slightly misshapened tomato, those ugly vegetables are still good for you and your family.

Food waste continues to be a huge problem. Unfortunately, many people overlook or discard those ugly vegetables. When so many people cannot afford or have access to fresh fruits and vegetables, those ugly vegetables need their moment to shine.

Recently, Subway and Nick Lachey have partnered to support and raise awareness for Feeding America. Through the Ugly Veggie Rescue, anyone can adopt one of these misshapened veggies. Funds raised will benefit Feeding America.

According to Feeding America, millions of Americans do not have access to fresh fruits and vegetables. This nutrition gap impacts a huge cross section of the country. From creating healthy eating habits at a young age or supporting good nutrition throughout their lives, giving everyone the opportunity to have fresh, nutritious food is an attainable goal.

Subway and Nick Lachey partner on Ugly Veggie Rescue partnering Feeding America, photo provided by Subway

Subway has always been a leader in offering fresh, good for you, affordable food choices. Through this partnership with Feeding America, the goal is to make more people aware and hopefully spark a permanent change.

Through the Ugly Veggie Rescue, anyone can “adopt” one of these 13 ugly veggies. Each one has a name, like Ava the avocado, Clare the carrot and Tom the tomato. While these veggies might not be the picture perfect veggie from a magazine, they are pretty cute and they definitely have some personality.

To be clear, a donation doesn’t get you this particular vegetable. It is a way to support the cause. Even for just a $1, anyone can put their support behind Tom and his friends, more importantly put their support behind Feeding America and their purpose of helping bring food to those in need.

And, when people adopt one of these veggies, Subway will match that donation towards Feeding America. So, one person’s good deed sparks another good deed. Hopefully, it will spark a change in people’s perceptions, choices and actions.

As part of the Ugly Veggie Rescue initiative, FoodSided had the opportunity to chat with Nick Lachey. He shared some of his opinions about hunger in America, the Ugly Veggie Rescue program and some fun events in his future.

Below is a transcript of that interview.

Cristine Struble: One of the biggest myths about hunger in America is that it a homeless issue. With working parents often struggle with food security, how can people become more aware of the food security issue that faces many families?

Nick Lachey: Subway recently conducted a survey to understand exactly how people view hunger in America and how they want to help. Subway found that 91% of people would love to help combat food insecurity in America, but a majority of them feel like they don’t have enough time. Subway and Feeding America’s Ugly Veggie program is meant to give consumers a quick and easy way to make an impact. All you have to do is go to UglyVeggieRescue.com and “adopt” and Ugly Veggie of your own. With your adoption, you can make a donation as small as $1, which will be donated to Feeding America.

CS: It is believed that 72 billions of pounds of good food goes to waste each year, how can rescuing food help combat the hunger issue in the U.S.?

NL: Ugly Veggies get a bad rep for how they look. But when it comes down to it, these veggies taste just as good and are just as nutritious as their more attractive counterparts. To throw away perfectly good and healthy food when so many Americans -1 in 9 according to Feeding America- are facing food insecurity is ludicrous

CS: How are you and Subway using your platform to make it easy for families to make a difference via Feeding America?

NL: We want families to realize how easy it is to make a difference. We also want people to know they can make an impact in a way that’s fun and creative. With this program, we’re also asking people to question everyday habits- such as letting perfectly good, “ugly” produce go to waste, and evaluate where they can change their behavior and make a difference. This program is more than just donating money to Feeding America. We hope to raise awareness around the fact that billions of pounds of food go to waste every year.

CS: As a parent, how do you educate your children and family about smart food choices, from eating well to preventing food waste?

NL: I found that the easiest way to teach your kids most anything is by example. So, it’s helpful when kids see their parents leading a healthy, nutritious lifestyle and eating healthy vegetables, and kids often in turn, will mirror that and it’s important to start those lessons early.

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CS: When you’re on tour, how do you make smart eating choices for you and your family?

NL: Eating healthy on tour is always a challenge because you’re usually ordering out. It’s always a priority of mine to eat healthy no matter where I am. I’m a huge believer in the importance of healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle, not just for me but for my family. I’ve gotten to a point where I have places that I know are going to give me a healthy meal

CS: In addition to your partnership with Subway, what’s next for you?

NL: I’m excited about a new show, called America’s Most Musical Family that I’m hosting for Nickelodeon, which premiers November 1st, and I’m still preforming with 98 Degrees. We have a handful of shows still between now and the end of the year and other shows already lined up for next year. So I’m excited to be hopefully in a city near you soon.

FoodSided would like to thank Nick Lachey for speaking with us and Subway for facilitating this interview.

Are you ready to make a difference? An ugly veggie is waiting for your support. More importantly, Feeding America is ready to make a difference in many people’s lives. Whether you give a money or make smarter food waste choices, everyone is connected in this food issues. Isn’t it time to start making a difference?

What do you do to eat more fruits and vegetables in your family? Could the Ugly Veggie Rescue help you spark a conversation with your children?