Gelson's, Local Kids Team Up on a Summer Treat

In Manhattan Beach, Calif., a dozen kids from a local elementary school recently visited Gelson’s, but they weren't there to accompany their parents on a typical grocery run. Instead, they learned a little about healthy food and delicious recipes, while also helping create one.

Now, when customers stop into Gelson’s Manhattan Beach, they can enjoy a cool and refreshing summer treat: the Grand View Peach Melba Smoothie, made of the recipe concocted by Gelson’s staff dietitian Jessica Siegel and fifth-graders from nearby Grand View Elementary School.

This seasonal smoothie is available at store’s Dunes Juice & Smoothie bar. This featured seasonal smoothie is available for $7.99 until July 15; a portion of all sales will be donated to the Growing Great Junior Chefs program, a nonprofit that teaches children about healthy food choices through gardening and nutrition education. Gelson’s is known for its in-store specialties and experiential concepts.

“I had all of the junior chefs taste peaches and raspberries on their own, then together,” Siegel said. She and the kids from Grand View also discussed the importance of measuring accurately and testing recipes multiple times, she said. 

The group tried different combinations of ingredients, but they ultimately substituted vanilla coconut yogurt for the customary vanilla ice cream normally used in peach melba desserts and summer frozen drinks. For texture, Siegel and the junior chefs team added shredded coconut and chia seeds to a batch of Gelson’s ripe yellow peaches. 

Founded in 1951, Gelson’s operates 27 full-service specialty grocery stores throughout Southern California. Gelson’s features the full amenities of a traditional supermarket while working with local food vendors to showcase the local flavor of a neighborhood market.