NEW PRODUCTS

The latest snack product in the Nabisco® line from Kraft Foods Inc., Northfield, Ill., is sure to be a favorite for children and one that their parents will appreciate. KidSense™ Fun Packs are three new varieties of Nabisco products—Teddy Grahams® Cubs, Kraft® Cheese Nips® Sport Crisps, and Smilin’ Ritz® Bits—reformulated to address parents’ concerns about fat, sugar, and artificial ingredients while still maintaining the taste the children enjoy. KidSense products meet Kraft’s Sensible Snacking/Sensible Solution nutrition criteria for better-for-you cookies and crackers.

The products are packaged in single-serving pouches. A serving of each variety is made with 3 g of whole grain; provides a good source of calcium; has no artificial flavors, sweeteners, or trans fatty acids; contains 3 g of total fat (with low to no saturated fat); and contains 100 calories. Each package also lists fun fitness tips that encourage kids to keep active.

Look for the products in the cookie and cracker aisle in grocery stores nationwide. Each box contains six individual pouches.

Gardenburger, Irvine, Calif., creator of the original veggie burger, has introduced 100% natural Gardenburger Wraps. These microwavable, hand-held products are designed specifically for today’s on-the-go, health-conscious consumer.

Loaded with soy protein and fiber, the wraps come in two varieties: black bean chipotle (black bean patty, chipotle sauce, and cheese in a whole-wheat tortilla) and sun-dried tomato basil (Italian-style vegetable patty, marinara sauce, and Mozzarella cheese in a whole-wheat tortilla). Gardenburger is said to be the only leading meatless brand to use 100% natural ingredients throughout its entire retail product line.

"We created new Gardenburger Wraps as a more convenient way to eat healthy meatless products," said Chief Executive Officer Scott Wallace. "Today, people are increasingly on-the-go and are demanding more convenient, yet healthful and flavorful products. These great-tasting wraps solve many mealtime dilemmas inherent in people’s busy lifestyles."

Gardenburger Wraps can be found in the meatless section of the frozen food department in grocery and natural foods stores. Each box contains two wraps.

The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture recently released its new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, recommending that consumers increase their intake of foods containing mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids, while keeping their intake of saturated and trans fats as low as possible. Unilever, Englewood Cliffs, N.J., has developed Hellmann’s® Canola Real Mayonnaise to help consumers achieve this.

The product contains polyunsaturated fats, such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, that do not occur naturally in the body and must be obtained from dietary intake. Studies have shown that these fats can help to maintain heart health when consumed as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol. The mayonnaise is also low in saturated fat, high in monounsaturated fat, and contains zero trans fat per serving.

Tropicana Products Inc., Bradenton, Fla., has introduced a new variety of the Light ’n Healthy juice beverage line, called Light ’n Healthy with Pulp. The beverages are available in 8-, 14-, and 64-oz containers.

And Weight Watchers® has selected Tropicana® Light ’n Healthy as the first juice beverage to list its proprietary Points® values right on the packaging, so that people counting calories can still get the vitamins and minerals found in orange juice.

"When people eliminate a naturally healthy beverage like orange juice from their eating plans, they’re also cutting a convenient source of essential nutrients, such as potassium and vitamin C," said Susan Learner Barr, Director of Program Development for Weight Watchers. "Adding Points value information to Tropicana Light ’n Healthy provides Weight Watchers members with information that they can use to integrate healthy beverages into their lifestyle."

An 8-oz glass of the juice is worth a Points value of 1 on the Weight Watchers TurnAround program vs 2 Points values for orange juice; provides a full day’s amount of vitamin C; is a good source of potassium (13% of the daily value); and has 6–7% of the daily value of folate.