ConAgra Urging Americans to Consume ‘100 Calories Less’
As part of its outreach at the American Dietetic Association (ADA) Food and Nutrition Conference in Denver this week, ConAgra Foods has unveiled a new education and awareness-building effort, in the form of a “100 Calories Less” pledge. The pledge is a voluntary commitment to carry the message of eating 100 fewer calories per day as part of an overall healthy lifestyle, to illustrate the impact that small changes can make in improving health.
ConAgra’s pledge is based on proprietary research conducted by Falls Church, Va.-based Lewin Group on behalf the manufacturer, which showed that even a modest reduction in calorie intake can significantly benefit health, leading to improved productivity and a reduction in U.S. medical expenditures.
“As Americans struggle with getting to and maintaining a healthy weight, we want people to know that even eating 100 fewer calories a day can have a significant and positive impact,” said Mark Andon, VP of nutrition at Omaha-based ConAgra. “We’re communicating directly to dietitians because we want to help them help their clients by giving them better solutions for the health challenges they face.”
The research related to reduction of daily calories shows the significant link to medical cost savings by reducing the number of cases of diabetes, heart disease, cancer and other diseases typically associated with obesity; an increase in national productivity also reduced absenteeism and disability.
Explains Barbara Ivens, ConAgra’s senior director, nutrition: “Making simple dietary improvements -- such as substituting a Healthy Choice meal for a takeout lunch, Egg Beaters instead of eggs, and Orville Redenbacher’s SmartPop! as a whole grain, calorie-controlled, sodium-controlled snack -- empowers people to make meaningful changes that can translate to healthier lives, less costly health care and increased productivity.”
For more information, visit www.conagrafoods.com.
ConAgra’s pledge is based on proprietary research conducted by Falls Church, Va.-based Lewin Group on behalf the manufacturer, which showed that even a modest reduction in calorie intake can significantly benefit health, leading to improved productivity and a reduction in U.S. medical expenditures.
“As Americans struggle with getting to and maintaining a healthy weight, we want people to know that even eating 100 fewer calories a day can have a significant and positive impact,” said Mark Andon, VP of nutrition at Omaha-based ConAgra. “We’re communicating directly to dietitians because we want to help them help their clients by giving them better solutions for the health challenges they face.”
The research related to reduction of daily calories shows the significant link to medical cost savings by reducing the number of cases of diabetes, heart disease, cancer and other diseases typically associated with obesity; an increase in national productivity also reduced absenteeism and disability.
Explains Barbara Ivens, ConAgra’s senior director, nutrition: “Making simple dietary improvements -- such as substituting a Healthy Choice meal for a takeout lunch, Egg Beaters instead of eggs, and Orville Redenbacher’s SmartPop! as a whole grain, calorie-controlled, sodium-controlled snack -- empowers people to make meaningful changes that can translate to healthier lives, less costly health care and increased productivity.”
For more information, visit www.conagrafoods.com.