The FINANCIAL -- ConAgra Foods announced on October 18 a new “100 calories less pledge”, an education and awareness building effort as part of its outreach at the American Dietetic Association (ADA) Food and Nutrition Conference in Denver.

The pledge is a voluntary commitment to carry the message of eating a 100 fewer calories per day, as part of an overall healthy lifestyle, to illustrate the impact that small changes can have in improving health. The pledge is based on proprietary research conducted for ConAgra Foods by the Lewin Group, which showed that even a modest reduction in calorie intake can significantly benefit health, leading to improved productivity and a reduction is U.S. medical expenditures.

“As Americans struggle with getting to and maintaining a healthy weight, we want people to know that even eating 100 fewer calories a day can have a significant and positive impact,” said Mark Andon, Ph.D., vice president, Nutrition, ConAgra Foods. “We’re communicating directly to dietitians because we want to help them help their clients by giving them better solutions for the health challenges they face.”

The research1 related to reduction of daily calories shows the significant link to medical cost savings by reducing the number of cases of diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and other diseases that are typically associated with obesity; plus an increase in national productivity reduced absenteeism and disability.

Conference attendees can take the pledge and get more information at ConAgra Foods’ booth No. 616.  For every pledge made at the ADA conference, ConAgra Foods will donate $1 to the ADA Foundation Nutrition Education fund, up to $5,000. 

 “One of the things we’ll be showing conference attendees is how truly easy it is to take 100 calories out of daily consumption,” said Barbara Ivens, MS, RD, FADA, senior director, Nutrition, ConAgra Foods. “Making simple dietary improvements—such as substituting a Healthy Choice meal for a take-out lunch, Egg Beaters® instead of eggs, and Orville Redenbacher’s® SmartPop! as a whole grain, calorie-controlled, sodium-controlled snack—empowers people to make meaningful changes that can translate to healthier lives, less costly health care, and increased productivity.”

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