On a day with Nutrient Rich, the new two word buzz term for healthy eating, we are beginning to see the consumer research come out about what they want to learn. According to the National Peanut Board (biases factored in)… "consumers say they're eager to eat a more plant-based diet, but need help understanding how, research finds."
What was so surprising was the intense focus on a "plant based diet", a term you only learned among the early adopters and "foodies" in years past, and the use of the new term in nutrition "nutrient rich".
Vocabulary Lesson:
In the past few years, a new term has been added to the nutrition dictionary: nutrient rich (nutrient density to those who want to be really fancy). The American Dietetic Association defines nutrient density as a way to compare the nutrients provided to the calorie count in a single food. According to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, nutrient rich foods are foods that provide substantial amounts of vitamins and minerals for relatively few calories (USDA, 2005)2005).
National Peanut Board launches new skinnyonnuts.com site to assist (in making the Switch to Rich!)
ATLANTA, March 09, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — While most consumers say they agree with recommendations in the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans that call for eating a more plant-based diet — rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and other plant-based foods — only a third believe they’re knowledgeable about how to do so.
That’s one key finding in research commissioned by the National Peanut Board (NPB) that led to the creation of skinnyonnuts.com – a new web site focused on helping consumers decipher the recently released dietary guidelines and increasing their consumption of nuts and other plant-based foods.
“Americans have never been more conscious about eating nutritious foods, but they’re saying they need help to turn that desire into action,” explained registered dietitian Deanna Segrave-Daly.
Along with information about plant-based diets, skinnyonnuts.com features nutrition and health information, recipes and energy-boosting snack ideas. It also presents tips on eating a gluten-free diet and managing food allergies.
“When you consider that 90 percent of American pantries contain one or more jars or peanut butter, sometimes the challenge is as straightforward as connecting the dots to foods people already enjoy,” said Raffaela Marie Fenn, president and managing director of the National Peanut Board. “That’s precisely why we created this new site.”
Among the research findings:
- While 66 percent of respondents believe they are very or generally knowledgeable about nutrition and diet overall, only 33 percent say they are very or generally knowledgeable about plant-based diets.
- 67 percent did not know that eating a more plant-based diet could help manage overeating and craving.
- 38 percent said say they’re mostly or usually eating a plant-based diet today, with 68 percent admitting they definitely or probably should consume more plant-based foods.
- According to respondents, three challenges in particular make it difficult for them to eat a more plant-based diet: eating out or eating at other peoples’ homes, staying with a plant-based diet and finding tasty, enjoyable foods and recipes.
- Fewer than half (41 percent) of respondents said they are very or generally knowledgeable about nuts, their nutritional value or the role they play in eating a more plant-based diet.