Barilla(R) Piccolini(R) and Actress Lori Loughlin Want to Make Your Child the Star of the Kitchen

Barilla(R) Piccolini(R) and Actress Lori Loughlin Want to Make Your Child the Star of the Kitchen

Barilla Invites Americans to Share Their Favorite Mealtime Moments for a

CHICAGO, May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- If it's been a challenge to get the entire family involved in the mealtime process, Barilla has solutions for parents and children to help contribute. Barilla has enlisted actress Lori Loughlin, star of the CW series "90210," to help provide tips for getting children involved in mealtime and creating easy, delicious and nutritious recipes the entire family will enjoy.

Barilla Piccolini has launched the "Piccolini Smiles" contest to give Americans the chance to show off their kitchen creativity. Between May 1 and June 28, people can visit www.PiccoliniSmiles.com and enter the contest by uploading photographs of their children enjoying or preparing Barilla Piccolini as part of a meal. Entries will be judged by Barilla based on creativity and originality. One grand prize winner will receive $25,000 in tuition money. Additionally, 10 first place winners will receive $1,000 in tuition money and 100 second place winners will receive a digital picture frame.

"As a working mother, I cherish every moment I get to spend with my family, whether we're playing sports, watching movies or preparing meals together," said actress Lori Loughlin, mother of three. "Barilla Piccolini mini pasta shapes make it easy and fun to create a delicious and nutritious meal that satisfies the entire family."

Barilla Piccolini bite-size classic pasta shapes -- with a quick cook time of just seven minutes -- add more excitement to all family favorite pasta dishes. Below are Lori's tips for making meals with mini chefs:

   --  Before heading to the grocery store, ask each child to write down one       ingredient, such as cheese, vegetables, fruits, mini pasta or lean       meats, to be included in a meal.   --  Assign tasks to each child, such as measuring ingredients, pouring       sauce, stirring, mixing and tasting. Remember, making a little mess is       part of the fun!   --  Let young children help set the table and decorate with placemats or       centerpieces inspired by their favorite color.    

"We have received an outpouring of stories and photographs from households across America highlighting the special memories made with Barilla," said Kirk Trofholz, President, Barilla America, Inc. "We hope the Barilla 'Piccolini Smiles' contest will inspire more families to have fun cooking and eating together on a regular basis."

About BarillaBarilla, originally established in 1877 as a bread and pasta shop in Parma, is today one of the top Italian food groups: a leader in the pasta business worldwide, in the pasta sauces business in continental Europe, in the bakery products business in Italy and in the crispbread business in Scandinavia.

Barilla owns 54 production facilities (14 in Italy and 40 outside Italy) and exports to more than 125 countries. Every year more than 2,800,000 tons of food products, with the brands Barilla, Mulino Bianco, Voiello, Pavesi, Wasa, Harry's (France, Spain and Russia), Lieken Urkorn, Golden Toast and Kamps (Germany), Alixir, Academia Barilla, Misko (Greece), Filiz (Turkey), Yemina and Vesta (Mexico), are featured on dining tables the world over.

By respecting its own traditional principles and values, which still feel current today, by considering employees a fundamental asset and by developing leading edge production systems, Barilla has become one of the world's most esteemed food companies, and one that is recognized worldwide as a symbol of Italian know how. For more information: www.barillagroup.com / www.barillaus.com.

   Contact:   Cassie O'Connor              (212) 704-8223              cassie.o'connor@edelman.com  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Barilla

CONTACT: Cassie O'Connor for Barilla, +1-212-704-8223,
cassie.o'connor@edelman.com

Web Site: http://www.barillaus.com/
http://www.piccolinismiles.com/

---

Profile: International Entertainment