Eggs Receive Great for You Seal from Walmart

PARK RIDGE, Ill., Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Walmart launched the new Great for You nutrition campaign to help shoppers identify healthier choices. Already touted by health experts as a nutrient power house, eggs received the Great for You seal recognizing their nutrient profile, high protein content and affordability.

"Few foods are as simple, inexpensive and versatile as eggs," says Araceli Vazquez, registered dietitian and advisor to the Egg Nutrition Center. "They can be paired with any vegetable to make a nutritious, affordable meal in minutes and should be on everyone's grocery list."

Healthy Shopping Tools
In-store initiatives like the new Great for You program, are designed to make filling the shopping cart with nutrient-dense items, like eggs, easier than ever. The Great for You seal evaluates products and labels items that contribute valuable nutrients and contain limited amounts of saturated fat, sodium and added sugars. As the Great for You program launches in Walmart stores, families will be able to quickly distinguish better-for-you choices in each aisle.

Big Nutrition, Little Price
At an average of just 15 cents apiece, eggs are the most affordable source of high-quality protein and deliver a powerful nutrient bang for the buck, including vitamin D, choline, riboflavin, selenium and phosphorous.(1) In fact, the American Heart Association includes eggs in its list of healthy foods under $1.(2) A recent analysis from the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service showed that eggs now have 14 percent less cholesterol (down from 215 mg to 185 mg) than previously thought and 64 percent more vitamin D.(3) Additionally, they are simple and quick to prepare for a nutritious meal when time is tight.

Vazquez has some additional tips for budget-savvy shopping that keeps health in mind:

• Take a lap – Many of the most nutrient-rich foods can be found around the outside of the grocery story, including produce, low-fat dairy, eggs and lean meats. Choosing these foods in their natural state and doing the chopping, seasoning and cooking yourself can save cash and give you more control over added fat, sodium and sugar.
• Plan your plate – Planning the week's meals and making a list of needed items helps avoid buying extras that could go to waste (or waistline!) or forgetting essential ingredients for a nutritious meal.
• Don't shop hungry – Cruising through the aisles with a grumbling stomach encourages impulse buys that add less healthy choices to your cart and blow the budget. Grab a snack like hard-boiled eggs, which can be made ahead of time and eaten before shopping to keep hunger pangs at bay.
• Aim for a colorful cart – The MyPlate program recommends half the plate be filled with fruits and vegetables, so there should be a decent array of color in your shopping cart each week. If the palette of your cart is too beige, course correct to the produce department.

For affordable recipe ideas or more healthy eating tips, visit www.IncredibleEgg.org or www.EggNutritionCenter.org. The Egg Nutrition Center is a National Strategic Partner of the USDA's MyPlate program, which helps Americans follow the Dietary Guidelines by providing resources and tips. For more information visit www.ChooseMyPlate.gov.

References:
(1) United States Department of Agriculture. Economic Research Service. Retail data for beef, pork, poultry cuts, eggs, and dairy products (January 19, 2012). Retrieved on January 19, 2012 from http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/MeatPriceSpreads/.

(2) American Heart Association. Healthy Foods for Under $1. Available at: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/HealthierKids/HowtoMakeaHealthyHome/Healthy-Foods-Under-1_UCM_303809_Article.jsp#.TwW_1jUS0uc. Accessed February 3, 2012.

(3) US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 2011. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 23. Online. Available at: Nutrient Data Laboratory Home Page, http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=12-35-45-00. Accessed October 24, 2011.

About the American Egg Board (AEB)
AEB is the U.S. egg producer's link to the consumer in communicating the value of The incredible edible egg™ and is funded from a national legislative checkoff on all egg production from companies with greater than 75,000 layers, in the continental United States. The board consists of 18 members and 18 alternates from all regions of the country who are appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. The AEB staff carries out the programs under the board direction. AEB is located in Park Ridge, Ill. Visit www.IncredibleEgg.org for more information.

About the Egg Nutrition Center (ENC) The Egg Nutrition Center (ENC) is the health education and research center of the American Egg Board. Established in 1979, ENC provides science-based information to health promotion agencies, physicians, dietitians, nutritional scientists, media and consumers on issues related to egg nutrition and the role of eggs in the American diet. ENC is located in Park Ridge, IL. Visit www.eggnutritioncenter.org or www.nutritionunscrambled.com for more information.

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SOURCE Egg Nutrition Center