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Cooking with Produce for Kids and Shuman Produce

By Jenny Steadman May 3, 2017

I was compensated for this review. Opinions are strictly my own. 

Here at Macaroni Kid Cleveland East, we take pride in helping families as well as supporting businesses that do the same. 

Shuman Produce is a family-owned business that has been part of the sweet onion industry for over 30 years. In 2002, president John Shuman created Produce for Kids® which has donated more than $6 million to charities that benefit children and families nationwide. With Produce for Kids, Shuman is helping to create a healthier generation by providing quality produce and healthy recipes that the whole family will love. ​

Last week I received a large bag of onions in the mail from Shuman Produce and my mind started racing with ideas! I love onions and will eat them absolutely anyway they are prepared. My kids on the other hand? Not so much. But, that is the beautiful thing about these Vidalia sweet onions. If I chop them up and cook them, they shrink enough to blend in with other foods and the sweetness is an added flavor bonus. If I want to use them raw, I dice them up as small as possible and can still sneak them into recipes. The kids have no idea and they benefit from the added nutrients.

Here are some recipes we enjoyed this week thanks to these beautiful, sweet onions:


Tuna Salad

1 can tuna
1/4 Vidalia sweet onion, diced
1 celery stalk, diced
2 Tbps mayonnaise, or to taste
salt and pepper, to taste

Mix everything together and enjoy! Make a cold sandwich, a tuna melt or scoop with crackers. NOTE: The recipe easily doubles.


Kielbasa with Brussels Sprouts

1 package kielbasa, sliced
1 Vidalia sweet onion, chopped
1 bag Brussels sprouts, shaved
salt and pepper, to taste

Warm pan with cooking oil. Sauté onion until translucent then add Brussels sprouts. Cook and stir until they start to get soft. Add kielbasa, salt and pepper. Stir to combine. When everything is warm, it's done!


Shrimp Fried Rice

Brown rice (1/2 cup cooked rice per serving)
1 Vidalia sweet onion, chopped
1/2 - 1 cup frozen peas
1 pound pre-cooked shrimp (or protein of your choice)
1-2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp sesame oil
salt and pepper, to taste

Cook rice according to directions on the package. Sauté onion in sesame oil until it begins to soften. Add cooked rice to pan and spread out so the rice can get a little crispy. Add soy sauce and a little extra sesame oil if the rice is sticking to the pan. Stir rice occasionally. When it starts to brown, add frozen peas and stir. Then add in shrimp and combine. Once everything is warm enough, serve and enjoy!


Want to know more about certain kinds of produce or looking for a recipe your family will enjoy? Check out www.produceforkids.com.

To learn more about the RealSweet® onions Shuman grows and sells, visit www.realsweet.com.