Chocolate Changes for Responsible Snacking

Mars, the company that sells Snickers, Twix, M&Ms among other major brands, announced that it will limit candy bars to 250 calories each.  It plans top hase out king-sized candy bars by 2014.

Mars also announced these health-related changes:

• 25% reduction of sodium in their products
• a cease in buying advertising time/space when/where >25% of the audience is 12 years or younger

You might say, "so what?"  Well, to me, this type of change is a good faith effort to help improve our American food culture.  We seem to all understand that our current culture makes it hard to maintain a healthy weight - but we don't all agree on or know of ways to help improve that culture. I think this major food manufacturer is taking some good steps. Really, people, no one should eat a 540-calorie king-sized Snickers bar...and pretty soon, no one will.

Here is the brief article where I learned about Mars' planned changes.

Here are even more quick, healthy, "responsible snacks":

• fresh fruit
• handful of nuts
• handful of trail mix (nuts, seeds, dried fruit)
• baby carrots
• a yogurt
• slice of whole grain bread with peanut butter or other nut butter
• a glass of milk
• a cheese stick
• ants on a log (celery sticks with either peanut butter or cream cheese on them, with raisins squooshed in). It might sound funky but it's good! And it was the first snack that I ever made for myself - probably around age 4. (I've always been an eater!)

Happy snacking!

USDA to Reveal Updated Food Guide Pyramid

In the continued effort to help Americans improve their overal health, the USDA wil announce a new icon and approach for the Food Guide Pyramid on June 2nd, 2011. The rationale behind re-vamping the look and feel of the Pyramid is that the current Pyramid does not attract much attention from the public.

The new Food Guide Pyramid approach will involve major marketing of the new icon and how-to suggestions on healthier lifestyle choices. Here is a sampling:

• enjoy your food but eat less


• avoid oversized portions


• make half of your plate fruits and vegetables


• switch to fat-free or low-fat milk


• choose lower sodium foods


• drink water instead of sugary drinks

If you've ever talked with me or another registered dietitian about healthy nutrition, you've probably heard a few of those suggestions!

See: http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20110526/food-pyramid-replacement-coming-june-2 for more information.