Video and Photo: Fight the Snack Attack with Delicious and Healthy Choices

    RIDGWAY, Colo., Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly all Americans (93%)
 snack at least once each day despite the importance consumers place on
 traditional meal occasions. In fact, while 90% of consumers believe
 breakfast is the most important meal of the day, less than half of
 Americans actually eat a daily breakfast(1). By comparison, 53% of
 consumers view snacks as important yet they are often treated as equivalent
 to a meal. More than one-third of consumers regularly skip meals and,
 instead, snack throughout the day(2).
     To view the Multimedia News Release, go to:
 http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/grainfoodfoundation/28984/
     Whether at home, work or on-the-go, nearly all Americans face a snack
 attack -- that mid-morning grumble or the three o'clock slump -- at least
 once per day. Snacking is important to a healthy diet, but it's how
 consumers handle the snack attack that is critical.
     "Snacktime is when most people fall victim to unhealthy choices," said
 Judi Adams, MS, RD and president of the Grain Foods Foundation. "Given that
 more people consume snacks than actual full-course meals -- it's critical
 that Americans understand how to make better snacking decisions."
     Hunger is the primary reason why consumers snack (69%) according to a
 recent survey commissioned by the Grain Foods Foundation and conducted by
 Harris Interactive(R). The survey also found that nearly half of US adults
 snack out of boredom (44%), and approximately one-third of Americans (32%)
 snack when they need a boost of energy.
     "There's a science to smart snacking," said Robin Miller of Food
 Network's "Quick Fix Meals." "An ideal snack can help keep energy levels
 stable throughout the day. Grain foods such as bread, crackers, pretzels
 and pitas, are a great foundation for a healthy snack."
     In an effort to encourage consumers to snack healthier, Robin Miller
 and the Grain Foods Foundation are looking for the country's best healthy
 snack recipe. Snack fans across America can submit their smartest snack
 recipe using bread or other grains to win a personal chef for two weeks --
 including grocery shopping, meal/snack preparation and clean up. To enter,
 visit www.grainpower.org.
     Carbohydrates, like bread and other grains, provide energy and satisfy
 those hunger pangs. In fact, more than half of consumers (54%) surveyed
 reach for grain foods when they need a boost of energy during a snack
 attack. And they can be combined with protein for the perfect pick-me-up.
     Additionally, because convenience is so important to consumers, keeping
 prepared snacks on hand in the office, the car or in your bag is important
 to outsmart a snack attack. Miller suggests keeping crackers mixed with
 dried fruit and nuts in baggies, or cutting a full-sized sandwich into
 squares for a quick bite at work.
     Survey Methodology
     This survey was conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of
 Grain Foods Foundation among 2,915 adults (aged 18 and over) within the
 United States between May 10 - 14, 2007. Figures for age within gender,
 education, income, race/ethnicity and region were weighted where necessary
 to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population.
 Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents'
 propensity to be online.
     With a pure probability sample of 2,915 adults one could say with a
 ninety-five percent probability that the overall results have a sampling
 error of +/- three percentage points. However that does not take other
 sources of error into account. This online survey is not based on a
 probability sample and therefore no theoretical sampling error can be
 calculated.
     About Harris Interactive
     Harris Interactive is the 12th largest and fastest-growing market
 research firm in the world. The company provides research-driven insights
 and strategic advice to help its clients make more confident decisions
 which lead to measurable and enduring improvements in performance. Harris
 Interactive is widely known for The Harris Poll, one of the longest
 running, independent opinion polls and for pioneering online market
 research methods. The company has built what could conceivably be the
 world's largest panel of survey respondents, the Harris Poll Online. Harris
 Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States, Europe and
 Asia offices, its wholly-owned subsidiary Novatris in France and through a
 global network of independent market research firms. The service bureau,
 HISB, provides its market research industry clients with mixed-mode data
 collection, panel development services as well as syndicated and tracking
 research consultation. More information about Harris Interactive may be
 obtained at www.harrisinteractive.com. To become a member of the Harris
 Poll Online, visit www.harrispollonline.com.
     About the Grain Foods Foundation
     The Grain Foods Foundation, a joint venture of members of the milling
 and baking industries formed in 2004, is dedicated to advancing the
 public's understanding of the beneficial role grain-based foods play in the
 human diet. Directed by a board of trustees, funding for the Foundation is
 provided through voluntary donations from private grain-based food
 companies and is supplemented by industry associations. For more
 information about the Grain Foods Foundation, visit www.grainpower.org.
     (1) 2007 IFIC Foundation Food & Health Survey
     (2) "On-the-Go Eating in the US: Consumer, Foodservice, Retailing &
     Marketing Trends," Packaged Facts.
 
 

SOURCE Grain Foods Foundation