REGISTERED DIETITIAN CYNTHIA SASS REVEALS TOP NUTRITION TRENDS
Accomplished Author Shares the Latest News from the American Dietetic Association’s Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo in Webinar Sponsored by Chilean Hass Avocados
WASHINGTON, DC, October 7, 2011 –New York Timesbestselling author and registered dietitian, Cynthia Sass, shared her perspective on the top trends at this year’sFood & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) in a live webinar sponsored by the Chilean Avocado Importers Association (CAIA). The American Dietetic Association’s annual meeting was held September 24-27 at the San Diego Convention Center.
“From edible stickers, to avocado facials, to all-natural zero-calorie sweeteners to vegan chocolate cake, I was really impressed by the innovative, diverse and delicious nutritional products and ideas on display at this year’s conference,” Sass said. “For the webinar, I identified some key trends that are practical, fun and truly conducive to helping people lead a healthier life.”
Sass, co-author of Flat Belly Diet! and author of her newest New York Times bestselling book, Cinch! Conquer Cravings, Drop Pounds and Lose Inches, briefed a virtual audience following the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo held September 24-27 at the San Diego Convention Center.
Cynthia Sass’s Top Nutrition Trends:
Good for You - Inside & Outside:Honey, avocados and even chocolate have great nutritional benefits, but did you know they are good for your skin, too? The National Honey Board booth featured a Cucumber Honey Eye Nourisher and Chilean Hass Avocados gave away avocado facial kits. For facial directions, visit http://www.chileanavocados.org/nutrition/avocados-beauty.
Homemade for You:Shoppers want minimally processed foods, but demanding schedules can seriously cut into cooking time. Hearty prepared meals with all-natural ingredients like Kettle Cuisine’s Roasted Vegetable Soup are among these new options.
Flexible Foods: Sweet & Savory:Sprucing up your traditional treats with savory ingredients can help amplify the nutritional content, cut down on saturated fat intake and create some seriously delectable desserts. The Chilean Hass Avocados booth showcased avocados in surprisingly sweet combinations, from energizing avocado banana smoothies to moist vegan avocado chocolate cake. Avocados, which contribute vitamins, minerals and unsaturated fats to one’s diet, can also be pureed and added to baked goods as a butter substitute.
Ancient and Exotic:The “latest and greatest” isn’t always the mantra for discerning consumers these days. People are scouring the grocery store aisles and beyond to find the most nutrient-rich foods like, Einkorn, which was the first form of cultivated wheat grown by farmers more than 10,000 years ago. Another ancient food-find is Monk Fruit, which, according to legend, was named after the Buddhist monks who first cultivated it almost 800 years ago. The fruit is concentrated into an all-natural zero-calorie sweetener, which is appearing in natural products from brands like Kashi and Bear Naked.
Produce Shortcuts:Almost all of Sass’s clients confess that they would eat more fruits and vegetables if they were pre-prepped. Thankfully, companies are catching on and doing the legwork with options like Hooray Puree, real vegetable purees in convenient pouches that make it easy to add fresh veggies to any dish. POM is another great example, offering fresh arils in a 4.3 ounce container to sprinkle on salads, soups or entrées.
Fun with Food:Making nutritious foods visually appealing can encourage healthy eating habits for children. Companies are coming up with unique ways to reach kids with foods that are as entertaining as they are nourishing. For example, My Fruity Faces developed natural, flavored edible stickers that kids can use to decorate fresh fruits and vegetables.
Plants Rule:Across the board, nutritional guidelines recommend moving toward a plant-based diet. This shift is easier to accomplish now than ever before due to the variety of vegan foods available, like hemp-butter, a delicious high-protein nut butter alternative. Incorporating meatless meals once a week into a diet can help reduce the risk of chronic disease and certain cancers. One simple and delicious way is to replace meat with avocados. For a quick recipe, visit http://www.chileanavocados.org/recipes/salads-dressings/avocado-asian-black-bean-salad/
“I discovered a variety of food and nutrition tips at FNCE that aren’t simply passing trends, but useful concepts that have real staying power,” Sass said. “I am so grateful that CAIA invited me to host this webinar so that I could share what I learned with men and women who can significantly improve their health just by incorporating these trends into their everyday lives.”
“FNCE is the most important meeting of the year for dietitians. It’s the perfect opportunity for us to remind these influencers of avocados’ incredible nutritional profile,” said Maggie Bezart, Marketing Director, CAIA. “We are very fortunate to work with Cynthia Sass, a well-respected dietitian who understands the critical role a diet rich in fruits and vegetables plays in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.”
For more information on these trends and more from Cynthia’s FNCE webinar, check out: http://www.chileanavocados.org/press-room/trade-news/registered-dietitian-cynthia-sass-reveals-top-nutrition-trends/
About the Chilean Avocado Importers Association
Established in 2002, CAIA is composed of Chilean Avocado importers, exporters and producers. The Association’s main objective is to conduct market development activities and promotions to increase the consumption of Chilean Hass Avocados in the United States during the Chilean season, August through March. Chilean Hass Avocados are available throughout the fall and winter, when California avocados are out of season.
About FNCE
Each fall, the American Dietetic Association sponsors the world's largest meeting of food and nutrition experts — more than 6,000 registered dietitians, nutrition science researchers, policy makers, health-care providers and industry leaders attend the annual meeting — and address key issues affecting the health of all Americans. The annual Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) features more than 100 research and educational presentations, lectures, debates, panel discussions and culinary demonstrations. More than 350 exhibitors from corporations, government and nonprofit agencies showcase new consumer food products and nutrition education materials.