Trending: We’re Eating Fewer Calories

According to NPR news, two-thirds of us are now more likely to choose foods marketed as lower-calorie and “better for you,” and that means we’re finally eating fewer calories. 

According to the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, 16 companies, including General Mills, Kraft and Nestle, have removed 6.4 trillion calories from the marketplace. The calorie cuts, tracked by the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, are part of a nationwide effort to tackle the obesity epidemic. Food companies are cutting back on portion size and reducing fat and sugar. This effort actually helps the companies’ bottom-line because better-for-you products have more growth potential. It’s a win-win situation.

Consumers want to have their cake and eat it too, so it’s not about giving up favorite foods. Everyone is searching for healthier versions. One approach in new product introductions, is the addition of vegetables into processed snack foods. For example, sweet potatoes can now be found in bars, chips and smoothies. Unfortunately, this trend doesn’t resolve the issue of the ever-increasing processed food epidemic in our country. We are only averaging 80 to 100 calories less per day. Yet, this change has an accumulative effect–enough to level off the obesity epidemic in the US.

As a nutritionist/registered dietitian in the US supermarket industry for over 20 years, I’ve witnessed many of the food industry trends and how consumers respond. It’s a cat and mouse game. For a longterm solution, read my book: Beyond The Mediterranean Diet: European Secrets Of The Super-Healthy to find out how the healthiest people avoid the diet pitfalls and never give up their favorite foods. Plus, enjoy the 50 easy and delicious chef-tested recipes that are proven to please the entire family.

Bon Appetit!