BENTONVILLE, Ark., Sept. 4, 2009 — Sam’s Club is the focus of a segment demonstrating the benefits of co-op cooking on Lifetime Network’s morning news program the Balancing Act to air Friday, Sept. 18 at 7 a.m. EST. The show features chef and author Nicole Aloni alongside three moms interested in learning how to gather, prepare and share nutritious meals for their families by starting a cooking club.

Cooking Clubs typically include three to four friends or family members who pool their money to purchase the ingredients for a week’s worth of meals. They then gather at the host’s kitchen and prepare everything in a few hours. "It's a wonderful way to connect with your friends, and for under one hundred dollars you've got a week's worth of meals for a family of four," said Aloni. "You just can't beat that."

Sam’s Club is hosting events in some clubs to help its members start cooking clubs and is offering customized recipes, tips, shopping lists and suggestions on serving and storage online at samsclub.com/cookingclub. On average, the cost is less than $3.50 per serving and includes shrimp, sirloin steak, chicken enchiladas to pork tenderloin. Side dishes are also included or entrees can be paired with green salad and bread.

“You don’t need to be trained a chef to start or participate in a cooking club, “said Aloni. “Everyone can play a role throughout the process and have fun spending time together.”

Sam’s Club recommends the following tips to get started:

• Look for common ingredients in the week’s recipe selection such as garlic or onions.
• For any recipe baked in casserole dish, bring your own.
• Alternate who does the shopping (usually best for kitchen host to take on).
• Label each meal with dates and dish specifics before filling.
• Meals are best defrosted in refrigerator the night before re-heating or serving.

To lean more, tune into the Balancing Act, Friday, Sept. 18 at 7 a.m. EST on Lifetime or watch the show online.

About Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club is a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT). The first Sam’s Club opened its doors in Midwest City, Okla., in 1983. Today, Sam’s Club serves more than 47 million U.S. Members with locations nationwide and in Brazil, China, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Sam’s Club offers exceptional values on merchandise and services for business owners and consumers. Online merchandise and Club information is available at samsclub.com.

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