By Laura Schmidt RD, LD

As part of Hy-Vee’s mission to make lives easier, healthier and happier, health and wellness has long been a focus of our efforts. In 2011, Hy-Vee began the One Step program, which takes that commitment to health and wellness one step further, by funding projects locally and worldwide to help people be healthier. The mission of One Step is simple – to offer customers a selection of everyday products and donate a portion of those proceeds to relevant, worthy causes. The program involves four products: One Step Shredded Wheat Cereal, One Step Russet Potatoes, One Step Bottled Water, and One Step Paper Towels.

Food insecurity and hunger are problems both locally and around the world. Proceeds from the sale of One Step Shredded Wheat Cereal, which is packaged in a 100% recycled cardboard box, help those struggling with food insecurities. To date, more than $51,000 has been donated to Meals from the Heartland, a nonprofit organization of volunteers who package nutritious meals for the needy. That amounts to roughly 256,000 meals, which have been packaged and shipped to food banks throughout the Midwest. Your purchase of One Step Shredded Wheat will not only help people in need, it can also benefit your own health! This 100 percent whole-grain cereal is an excellent source of fiber and a great way to start your day.

Proceeds from the sales of One Step Russet Potatoes help fund grants that are awarded each year to support community gardens. Thus far, purchases of One Step Russet Potatoes have provided funding for 420 community gardens. In addition, Hy-Vee registered dietitians are beginning to collaborate with local One Step gardens, to teach children and others in need about health and nutrition through the process of planting, tending and harvesting their own fruits and vegetables.

Lack of fresh water is another global crisis which the One Step program has set out to help alleviate. It is estimated that, worldwide, one in six people lacks access to safe drinking water. Hy-Vee partners with Rotary International to dig wells to provide people around the world with clean water and improved sanitation. Proceeds from the sales of One Step Bottled Water have led to the completion of 13 clean water projects, which provide clean drinking water to villages in countries including Haiti, South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania and Nigeria.

The sales of One Step Paper Towels, which are made of recycled materials, go toward preservation of another crucial resource: trees. Trees provide ecological and environmental benefits to communities, as well as practical, commercial and social values that affect a community’s quality of life. Thanks to the sales of One Step Paper Towels, 14,000 trees were planted in the flood-damaged Wilson Island State Recreation area near Council Bluffs, Iowa. Hy-Vee works with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant trees in neighborhoods, parks, and other public places.

Stop by to visit your local Hy-Vee registered dietitian this month to learn more about One Step products and other products that “give back.” And try this recipe for an easy, healthy breakfast using One Step Shredded Wheat Cereal!

One Step Shredded Wheat Parfait

Serves 1

All you need:

1 (5.3 oz) container Siggi’s non-fat raspberry yogurt

2/3 cup crushed Hy-Vee One Step shredded wheat cereal

cup fresh raspberries

1 tbsp sliced almonds

All you do:

1. Spoon about half of the yogurt into the bottom of a parfait glass or other tall glass. Cover with 1/3 cup crushed shredded wheat cereal. Repeat layers of yogurt and shredded wheat.

2. Top with fresh raspberries and sliced almonds.

Nutrition Facts per serving: 280 calories, 3.5g fat, 0g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 65mg sodium, 46g carbohydrates, 18g sugar, 7g fiber, 19g protein

Daily values: 0% vitamin A, 15% vitamin C, 20% calcium, 60% iron.

The information is not intended as medical advice.

Please consult a medical professional for individual advice.

Laura Schmidt is a registered dietitian representing Hy-Vee as a nutrition expert promoting healthy eating throughout the community.