cooking light

[Guest guest]

Here at Cooking Light, we know we've been on to something good for the last

15 years. But a recent survey we conducted with Yankelovich Monitor, a

leading national marketing and consumer research company, confirms what we've

long known: Healthy food is here to stay. The survey, which sampled a cross

section of 500 Americans, showed that two out of three respondents think that

when choosing foods to eat, good health is more important than tradition,

trying new flavors, or convenience. Nearly half said they eat " a lot " more

healthy foods than they did five years ago, and consumption of ethnic and

organic foods is also higher. When asked why they choose to prepare meals at

home, nearly a quarter of respondents said that doing so allows them to

better control the healthfulness of their food. Our survey mirrors several

long-term food consumption studies by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For

instance, Americans buy 21 percent more fruits and vegetables and 102 percent

more poultry than they did 30 years ago, while beef sales have fallen by 11

percent. And total fat now provides 33 percent of the calories in our diets,

down from nearly 40 percent in the late 1970s. Not perfect, by far, but a

start -- and one that shows how healthy lifestyle messages are shaping

American consumption habits. " People are getting it. They know they can have

healthy foods and indulgent ones -- it's not all or nothing, " says Cooking

Light Senior Food Editor Jill Melton. " And they're more aware of the role

foods play in maintaining good health. " Cooking Light plans on sticking with

its formula of flavorful foods that are lower in fat and with its coverage of

the best ways to manage a healthy lifestyle. " Healthy living isn't all about

obsessing over grams of fat, " Melton says. " It's about a number of different

things -- exercise, proper portions, and a balanced mix of foods. That's what

we've been saying since day one, and as diets and fad foods come and go,

we'll keep saying the same. " Survey Says

Here's what Cooking Light asked in a nationwide poll conducted by Yankelovich

Monitor, and how Americans answered. Compared to five years ago, how much

more of the following types of food do you eat?

> Healthy Foods: 45% a lot more, 22% a little more

> Ethnic Foods: 22% a lot more, 20% a little more

> Organic/Natural Foods: 12% a lot more, 12% a little more

> Indulgent Foods: 11% a lot more, 12% a little more

When choosing foods to eat, what is your most important consideration?

> Foods that are healthy: 63% very important

> Convenience: 42% very important

> Traditional foods from childhood: 42% very important

> Trying new flavors and cuisines: 18% very important

Which one reason best describes why you choose to prepare meals at home?

> I enjoy cooking: 28%

> To control healthfulness: 24%

> Quality time and comfort: 23%

 

http://www.cookinglight.com/cooking/hl/nutrition/article/0,13803,267805,00.htm

 

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Anna