Eating portion-controlled frozen foods as part of reduced-calorie diet helps people learn proper portions, finds ConAgra Foods study

Cindy Allen

OMAHA, Nebraska , September 30, 2011 (Con-Agra Foods) – ConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYSE: CAG) one of North America’s leading food makers, presented research findings this week suggesting that portion-controlled frozen meals eaten as part of a reduced-calorie eating plan helped participants learn proper portions. A main contributor to calorie overconsumption is portion distortion.

“Multiple studies have shown that right-sized portions play a vital role in helping people lose weight,” said Kristin Reimers, PhD, nutrition manager, ConAgra Foods. “Consumers in our study all reported eating Healthy Choice meals for lunch and/or dinner for 30 days helped them better understand proper portion size. This is what makes frozen meals like Healthy Choice so powerful – the food is easy and convenient to prepare, tastes fantastic, takes the guess work out of portion control, and teaches people about proper portions at other meals.”

ConAgra Foods, the maker of Healthy Choices frozen meals, revealed its research at the American Dietetic Association’s Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo held in San Diego. As part of the study, 32 participants between the ages of 25-65 replaced at least 10 meals per week (seven lunches and at least three dinners) with a portion-controlled frozen meal from Healthy Choice. Participants accompanied the meals with two or three food items, such as salad, skim milk and fruit, and were encouraged to increase lifestyle activity and walk up to 150 minutes per week. Participants lost an average of six pounds and saw their waistlines reduced by about an inch.

“People in our study found it easy to replace the 10 meals per week with a Healthy Choice meal, and the results were really strong – weight loss, body fat loss and reduced waist circumference,” Reimers said. “Dietary Guidelines for Americans state that a key strategy for weight loss is proper portions. Portion controlled Healthy Choice meals offers individuals a way to help achieve that recommendation.”

Survey authors were Reimers, Sabrina Pardo, Diane Kawiecki and James Rippe.

ConAgra Foods has an ongoing commitment to health and wellness and sponsors numerous research studies throughout the year to convey the health benefits of a variety of foods to dietitians and consumers.

About Healthy Choice
A main contributor to calorie overconsumption is portion distortion. Healthy Choice helps people avoid this dietary pitfall because the meals are appropriately portioned with the calorie content clearly labeled. Additionally, over 70 varieties, all with less than 400 calories, provide positive nutrients such as whole grains, fiber, protein and antioxidants.

For more information on the various Healthy Choice product lines, visit www.HealthyChoice.com. For special offers and up-to-the-minute information, stay in touch with the brand online: “Like” the brand on Facebook (www.facebook.com/healthychoice) and follow Healthy Choice on Twitter (www.twitter.com/Healthy_Choice).

About ConAgra Foods
ConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYSE: CAG), is one of North America’s leading food companies, with brands in 97 percent of America’s households. Consumers find Banquet, Chef Boyardee, Egg Beaters, Hebrew National, Hunt’s, Marie Callender’s, Orville Redenbacher’s, PAM, Peter Pan, Reddi-wip, Slim Jim, Snack Pack and many other ConAgra Foods brands in grocery, convenience, mass merchandise and club stores. ConAgra Foods also has a strong business-to-business presence, supplying frozen potato and sweet potato products as well as other vegetable, spice and grain products to a variety of well-known restaurants, foodservice operators and commercial customers. For more information, please visit us at www.conagrafoods.com.

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