Fifty-seven percent of US dietitians admit they wouldn't be able to have nutritional success without occasional indulgent meal where taste is the priority, survey says; 65% admit to cooking or seasoning their vegetables to tolerate taste

Nevin Barich

NEW YORK , October 17, 2012 (press release) – Fifty-seven percent of dietitians reveal they wouldn't be able to have nutritional success without an occasional indulgent meal where taste is the priority, according to a survey released today by FreshDirect, a leading online retailer of fresh foods and grocery items. While a majority of respondents said they would acquire a taste for anything that's good for them and like it, 65 percent admit to cooking or seasoning their vegetables to tolerate the taste.

FreshDirect recently surveyed over 200 dietitians and attendees at the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo on Oct. 6-8, the world's largest annual meeting of food and nutrition professionals, to find out what the experts really think about food, body image, and healthy lifestyles.

"These findings show that these dietitians first and foremost value quality of life," said Amy Marlow , MPH, RD, Nutrition Advisor for Happy Family Brands, and participant at the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo. "Dietitians know that feeling good and staying healthy means keeping nutrient-rich foods at the center of their diets, but it does not mean they deprive themselves of delicious-tasting foods."

The survey reveals that 75 percent of dietitians have weight loss counseling experience, but 84 percent think their own bodies could use some work. What's more, 56 percent of those surveyed admitted to recommending foods to clients that they don't eat themselves.

"The idea of the survey was to understand to what degree dietitians practice what they preach, and to test the commonly-held view that dietitians have perfect food habits, perfect weight, and never indulge," said John Leeman , Chief Marketing Officer of FreshDirect. "What we found is that dietitians are human. Like many of us, they want nutritious, healthy foods, but they also want to enjoy the taste of it. That's why we put an emphasis on quality, which can satisfy both needs."

Lifestyles are also an important indicator of how dietitians maintain their habits. Eighty percent of dietitians respond that they love to try new desserts and sip on cocktails with friends when they go out to restaurants. Seventy-one percent claim that inconvenience and lack of exciting selection derail their ideal eating habits on a weekly basis. Only 30 percent contend that there is no excuse to sacrifice pure eating.

"We want to change the notion that convenience and selection mean sacrificing the ideal of good eating," said Leeman. "Many of our Smart and Simple 4-Minute Meals, for instance, contain unique combinations of tasty, low-calorie foods for people on the go. But generally, the ability to choose from a selection of over 6,000 items - ranging from fresh, organic and all-natural fruits and vegetables to flavorful meats to exotic, sustainable seafood, at the click of a button, is something that anyone can feel good about."

The Food & Nutrition Conference also served as a kick-off for the development of the FreshDirect Nutritional Advisory Board, a panel of nutritionists who will consult with FreshDirect on dietary trends, and help to make food both healthy and delicious. The board will be a part of FreshDirect's ongoing product development and help to take FreshDirect's commitment to providing nutritious and great tasting options to the next level.

About FreshDirect:

FreshDirect is a leading online grocer in the U.S., delivering premium quality fresh-from-the-farm foods and brand-name groceries to customers in the greater New York, New Jersey, Connecticut metro area and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. With a 2,000-member workforce that is still growing, FreshDirect places an emphasis on nutritious, delicious meals and convenient services that allow customers more time to live healthy lives. FreshDirect aspires to be a valued corporate partner in all communities in which it serves.

For more information, visit www.freshdirect.com. Follow FreshDirect on Twitter: @freshdirect and on Facebook: facebook.com/FreshDirect

Contact:

Meghan Kelly

215 564 3200 ext. 113

mkelly@gobraithwaite.com

SOURCE FreshDirect

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