Here's the 'Scoop' on Fitting Fun Foods Into a Healthy Diet (press release)

Monday, June 13, 2005 by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger Editor of NaturalNews.com (See all articles...) Tags: food marketing, nutritional guidelines, junk food

https://www.naturalnews.com/008481.html

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With all the buzz about the newly revised U.S. Dietary Guidelines and launch of the USDA's "MyPyramid," we've been exposed to more information about our diet and eating habits than ever before. Yet there's still confusion as to where "fun foods," those special treats everyone craves, can fit into a "better-for-you" diet.

"The U.S.D.A. was very careful to state that while there are foods that we should consume every day, such as fruits, vegetables, lowfat dairy, lean proteins and whole grains, we can still enjoy other foods within moderation," says Amy Fischl, MS, RD, CDE. "Each of the 12 personalized 'pyramids' leave room for discretionary calories, the number of which is based on age, weight and activity level."

Desserts and other treats typically count as discretionary calories. Additionally, discretionary calories can come from:
• eating more foods from any of the recommended food groups;
• eating higher calorie forms of recommended foods such as whole milk or sweetened cereal;
• adding fats or sweeteners to foods such as jelly on toast or dressing on a salad; or
• eating foods that are mostly fats or sweets such as candy and regular soft drinks or alcoholic beverages.

The number of discretionary calories for adults ranges from just 195 calories per day for a sedentary 35-year-old woman following a 1,800 calorie- a-day eating plan, to 648 calories for an active 14-to-18-year-old male consuming 3,200 calories per day. According to Fischl, it's okay to occasionally increase the number of discretionary calories on a given day by increasing activity.

"Portion control is key to following a healthful diet that's also enjoyable," adds Fischl. "When it's a special occasion, or if someone has saved up some discretionary calories, I encourage them to go ahead and have that scoop of ice cream they've been craving. Just make sure that it is a regular-sized serving
• a half-cup, which is about the size of a tennis ball."

Helping to make this an achievable goal is that fact that there are delicious ice cream choices designed to meet individual tastes and caloric needs. Breyers® CalSmart&159;, HeartSmart&159; and SugarSmart&159; ice creams, and the newest addition to the freezer case
• All Natural Double Churned Light ice cream
• all deliver great taste with fewer calories and/or less fat or less sugar than regular ice cream. Depending upon the flavor, calories range from 70 to 140 per half-cup serving, with many falling into the 70 to 100-calorie-per-serving range.

To make a half-cup scoop look more generous, Fischl suggests investing in small but interesting serving dishes such as martini glasses or colorful ramekins. Adding fresh fruit or a light sprinkle of toasted chopped nuts contributes additional nutrients for relatively few calories.

For recipes and additional information about better-for-you ice cream choices, visit http://www.icecreamusa.com or request your free copy of the new brochure, The "Smart Scoop" On Ice Cream! For Weight Management. To order, write to: The Scoop for Weight Management, P.O. Box 19007, Green Bay, WI 54307-9007 or e-mail request to [email protected]. Please allow 3 to 4 weeks for delivery.

Unilever Ice Cream, headquartered in Green Bay, Wis., is the largest manufacturer and marketer of branded packaged ice cream and frozen novelties in North America. In the U.S., the company operates eight manufacturing facilities and employs approx. 3,300 people. Its well-known brands include Breyers® Ice Cream, Popsicle®, Klondike®, Good Humor® and Ben & Jerry's®.

Unilever (NYSE: UL, UN), one of the world's largest consumer products companies, aims to add vitality to life by meeting everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene and personal care. Each day, around the world, consumers make 150 million decisions to purchase Unilever products. The company has a portfolio of brands that make people feel good, look good and get more out of life.

In the United States these brands include recognized names such as: Axe, "all," Ben & Jerry's, Bertolli, Breyers, Caress, Country Crock, Degree, Dove personal care products, Eternity by Calvin Klein, Hellmann's, Lipton, Knorr, Popsicle, Promise, Q-Tips, Skippy, Slim-Fast, Snuggle, Suave and Vaseline. All of the preceding brand names are registered trademarks of Unilever. Dedicated to serving consumers and the communities where we live, work and play, Unilever in the United States employs more than 15,000 people in 74 office and manufacturing sites in 24 states and Puerto Rico - generating approximately $10 billion in sales in 2004. For more information visit www.unileverusa.com .