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Food and Beverage Product Focus: Weight Management

Jan. 20, 2015
As the number of consumers wanting to control their weight increases, so do the available options for weight control food and beverage products.
According to the 2014 Food and Health Survey from the International Food Information Council Foundation, Washington, D.C., four in five consumers report they are trying either to lose weight (54 percent) or maintain their weight (25 percent). Topping the list of what they believe to be the most effective weight-management strategy is tracking and increasing the amount of time of physical activity at 27 percent, followed closely by eating smaller portions at 26 percent, and eating smaller and more frequent meals or snacks at 23 percent.

Aside from controlled snacking and the obvious need to exercise, other high-priority weight loss actions involve a range of food monitoring activities, according to David Sprinkle, research director of Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com, Rockville, Md. “These include checking food labels to avoid high-fat products, high-sugar products and high-sodium products as well as limiting the use of processed foods,” he says.

According to Packaged Facts’ recently released report Weight Management: U.S. Consumer Mindsets, the eating habits of weight-conscious consumers have changed significantly in the past five years. A growing number of consumers who want to lose weight often eat several small meals a day. They also snack between these meals but usually only on healthy foods, according to Sprinkle. The percentage of those who seek to maintain their weight and who eat several small meals and usually only snack on healthy foods is growing even faster. The highest priority for those taking steps to lose weight is to get control of their snacking habits.

Special K Goes Gluten Free

Kellogg Co. has long positioned Special K breakfast cereal as a weight management food. The company recently rolled out a reformulated version that is gluten-free so those who avoid gluten can reap the cereal’s benefits. Featuring multi-grain flakes made from corn, sorghum and rice with a touch of brown sugar, a one-cup serving provides 180 calories, along with satiety-inducing protein (3g) and fiber (5g). The last comes from the grains and the addition of soluble corn fiber. For many who avoid gluten, fiber is often lacking in their diet. If gluten is not an issue, the company now offers Special K Protein Cinnamon Brown Sugar Crunch cereal, with a three-fourths-cup serving containing 20 calories, 10g protein and 3g fiber.

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Healthy On-the-Go Breakfast Sandwiches

Mornings just got easier with new healthy options for a satisfying low-carb breakfast on-the-go. Atkins Nutritionals Inc., a leader in the weight-management category, introduces Atkins Breakfast Sandwiches. The new microwavable frozen sandwiches are made with Atkins-friendly ingredients such as custom low-carb English muffins, real eggs, cheeses and premium meats. The four varieties are: Bacon with Egg and Cheese, Canadian Bacon with Egg and Cheese, Sausage with Egg, and Sausage with Egg and Cheese. Each sandwich is a satiating 230-340 calories, 17-20g of protein and only 4-5g net carbs, depending on variety. Each sandwich also contains 12g of fiber, which comes from the addition of resistant maltodextrin, oat fiber and flaxseed. The suggested retail price per two-pack is $3.99.

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Soup to Fill You Up

Soup before a meal is said to help you eat less. It’s also an easy way to get more vegetables in the diet. Recognizing these attributes are an opportunity for the premium soup category, Dole Packaged Foods LLC steps into a new category with Dole Garden Soup, a line of heat-and-eat soups inspired by garden-fresh flavors. The company uses a proprietary, gentle cooking method to protect and lock in the fresh flavors, vibrant colors and smooth texture of garden-fresh vegetables. Containing no preservatives, the low-fat, gluten-free and cholesterol-free soups come in five varieties: Carrot Ginger, Roasted Garlic Tomato Basil, Southwestern Black Bean & Corn, Sweet Corn and Tomato Vegetable. Found in the ambient soup aisle, a 26-oz. aseptic carton has a suggested retail price of $3.49.

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