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Savvy Snacking
by LA Family Magazine

With consumers growing more concerned about healthful eating, and with obesity reaching epidemic proportions, DOLE Fruit Bowls challenges families to “Go for the Bowl” when it comes to snacking. On average, Americans eat almost five times a day with snacks accounting for almost half of those occasions. By eating DOLE Fruit Bowls fruit snacks instead of the regular vending machine fare, consumers can enjoy a tasty and healthful treat that is lower in fat and calories than many other snack foods.

DOLE Fruit Bowls make the perfect grab-and-go snack not only for busy moms, but busy kids as well, offering natural refreshing fruit packed in a convenient container. Whether parents are packing lunches for their little ones, or teens are grabbing a snack before rushing off to school or sports practice, DOLE Fruit Bowls offer a healthful, portable alternative to a bag of chips or candy bar.

“With the new Dietary Guidelines now recommending people eat five to 13 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, a regular DOLE Fruit Bowl is the perfect way to get one whole serving of fruit. This is a tasty and convenient way to snack your way to a healthier you,” said Amy Myrdal, MS, RD, Director of Nutrition Marketing & Research, Dole Nutrition Institute.

Consumers Want Convenience
While consumers are concerned about eating a balanced diet, they often are short on time. When asked about trying new foods, 77 percent of consumers said they would try foods that were ready to eat, and 65 percent of consumers said they would try foods offering on-the-go packaging . DOLE Fruit Bowls offer busy consumers the whole package – a healthful, sweet snack in a convenient and portable container, and the added benefit of no refrigeration necessary.

Here are some additional time saving tips for packing a kid’s lunch (or even your own):

Plan: Make a lunch list at the beginning of the week. You can involve your kids in the process by asking them what they would like to have for lunch, and then enlist their help in packing it.

Pre-Pack: Fill baggies with crackers or raw veggies in advance. That way, when it comes to actually putting the lunch together, the food is pre-packed and ready to go.

Portable (and healthful) is key: Pack healthful items that are portable and easy to grab and go,

Enlist help: If you are packing sandwiches, have your kids help by making an assembly line with the bread, cheese, lettuce and lunch meat.

Save: Put aside napkins, ketchup and mustard packets you get from take-out to use in lunches.

Make room in the fridge: Designate a spot in your refrigerator to store lunch items, that way you only have to go to one spot when packing.

Reduce cleaning: Avoid packing food items that leak or can be easily smashed so you don’t have to clean lunch boxes every night.

Cool it down: Fill thermoses half-way with juice the night before and put in the freezer. The next morning, take the thermos out of the freezer and fill the rest with juice. This not only keeps the juice cold, but keeps other lunchbox items cool as well.

Use what you’ve got: Don’t be afraid to give your kids dinner leftovers. The food is already made and most likely is already in plastic containers and ready to go.

©2005 Los Angeles Family Magazine

 

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