Celebrities – whether they are pop stars, actors, or sports legends – carry a lot of weight, especially among kids and teenagers. So who better to put their names behind healthy foods and beverages? In fact, more and more celebrities are opting to endorse good-for-you foods, which is a trend we can all get behind. Here are a few of our faves:
TeamFNV: Jessica Alba, Cam Newton, Jordin Sparks, Victor Cruz, Kristin Bell, and Gabrielle Union are just a few of the bold-faced names who have joined the FNV (shorthand for “Fruits and Vegetables”) campaign to market fruits and vegetables to kids using the same tactics that big corporations have used since the early days of advertising, like this clever social media promo for asparagus:
Avocados from Mexico: Everyone loves avocados, and NFL players Jerry Rice and Doug Flutie, along with Scott Baio of “Happy Days” fame are no exceptions. Rice and Flutie starred in the Avocados from Mexico 2015 Super Bowl ad that looked at the “First Draft Ever.” And in the 2016 Super Bowl spot, a group of futuristic aliens take a tour through a “Museum of Earthly Wonders,” and spot Baio, a Rubik’s Cube, and “always in season” avocados among the Earth’s most unique possessions.
The Dannon Company: NFL Quarterback Cam Newton lends his considerable star power to Dannon’s Oikos Triple Zero Yogurt, appearing in a campaign that kicked off in January. “As an athlete, I pay close attention to what I eat – whether it’s between meals or after working out,” said two-time NFL Pro Bowler Newton. “It’s funny because I really do find myself searching the grocery store for new protein snack options. Oikos Triple Zero was quite honestly right up my alley – not only because of its nutritional benefits, but because it tastes good too.”
Brita: Who better than a star athlete to tout the importance of water? In March, NBA MVP Stephen Curry signed on to be an ambassador for Brita Water Filters. The inspiring “Drink Amazing” campaign with Curry features prominently in national TV ads and social media campaigns highlighting Brita’s products and the benefits of drinking water.
Pistachios: The little green nuts in a shell are a nutrition powerhouse with lots of protein, fiber, B vitamins and calcium. And they’ve been getting a big boost from the “Get Crackin’” campaign, which includes tongue-in-cheek commercials featuring the likes of Snoop Dogg, Stephen Colbert, and Dennis Rodman. The ads, which are a bit, um, nutty, will have you craving a bowl of pistachios before the commercial break is over.
Drink Up: Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Ashanti uses her fame and talent to support PHA’s Drink Up campaign, which encourages everyone to drink more water. In 2015, she used creative crowd sourcing to bring her new single, “Let’s Go,” to life, asking listeners to use the hashtag #DrinkUpAshanti on social media. The more the hashtag appeared on IG and Twitter, the more ‘hydrated’ the single became, until finally, the complete song was released on iTunes.
WAT-AAH!: This clever water-bottling company aimed at making water cool for kids and teens took ingenious marketing to the next level when they signed Pop superstar Arianna Grande to be their spokesperson in 2014, as well as an investor in the company. She is the face of the “OWN YOUR FUTURE” marketing strategy, which highlights healthy hydration as an important part of empowering kids and teens to take charge of their health.
