Advertising Healthy Foods
The same bright colors and beloved characters used to sell junk food to kids have all too rarely been used to promote fruits, vegetables, nuts, and other healthier options.
Created in 1929 by Elzie Crisler Segar, Popeye made spinach a symbol of strength—downing a can to gain instant power. Though not intended as advertising, the character reportedly boosted U.S. spinach consumption by 33 percent. His influence endures today, with brands like Allen Canning and Pope Fresh Foods still featuring the pipe-toting sailor.
Originally intended to educate American housewives on ways to prepare and consume bananas, the cartoon mascot, Miss Chiquita, and catchy jingle appeal to adults and children alike.
Playlist
In this Sesame Street rap, Cookie Monster—with his unquenchable love of cookies—spits out rhymes about fruits and vegetables instead. The playful performance flips expectations, using a beloved cookie-gorging character to promote healthier foods to young viewers.
In 2014, Cuties partnered with PBS Kids to advertise its oranges on child-facing digital platforms—placing the brand alongside trusted educational content to reach young audiences online.
Sesame Workshop allowed the use of its characters to promote fresh fruits and vegetables in partnership with the Produce Marketing Association and Partnership for a Healthier America. Between 2014 and 2016, growers and retailers could use beloved characters in produce marketing with no licensing fee to make them more appealing to kids.
Chiquita Banana turned snack time into playtime with a marketing campaign tied to Despicable Me 4—inviting consumers to transform ordinary bananas into Minions using peel-and-stick decals.
Dole launched a campaign with Disney's The Lion King, featuring beloved characters from the movie on millions of pineapple tags and banana stickers in the U.S. The promotion also included a collection of 20 themed recipies to encourage healthy eating.
Birds Eye Vegetables partnered with stars from the popular Nickelodeon show, iCarly, to make eating vegetables more enticing to its young viewers.
You may also like
Advertising Healthy Foods
CURRENTLY
VIEWING
