Battling Low-Carb Diet Blues

BATTLE CREEK - Mar 30/04 - SNS -- Recent surveys by a Kellogg Company subsidiary, Morningstar Farms, finds people are becoming bored by the limited options available under the "low carb" diets which have become enormously popular in North America the past couple of years.

The main problem dieters are trying to solve is how to reduce fat intake without compromising their low-carb diet. The Morningstar Farms survey found combining low-carb foods with reduced fat was important to 56% of low-carb dieters. Women (60%) were more likely than their male counterparts (50%) to note that food that is both low-fat and low-carb would help them when following a diet like Atkins, South Beach or the Zone.

The survey also concluded that:

* More than six in 10 dieters rank having more "low-carb" food options important.

* More than half (54%) suggest that convenient, ready-made foods are key to their success.

* Primary grocery shoppers among the low-carb dieters (62%) cite having a variety of food options as the most important factor that would help them follow their dietary regimen.

* More than one-third of low-carb dieters (37%) say learning more convenient food preparation is an important factor in maintaining their new eating habits and lifestyle.

"There are a number of reasons to be concerned about the long-term health implications of diets that are high in saturated fat," said Ruth Lahmayer, M.S., R.D., nutrition expert and former national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "Additionally, as this and other studies have shown, there's mounting evidence that consumers following many of today's popular low-carb diets often fail due to a lack of varied options."

Morningstar Farms believes it has products available at retail which help consumers solve this dilemma. Products labelled as being low in carbohydrates and low in fat include: Better 'n Eggs, Veggie Breakfast Sausage Links, Veggie Breakfast Sausage Patties, Veggie Breakfast Bacon Strips, Burger Style Recipe Crumbles, Ground Meatless Crumbles, Scramblers, Better 'n Burger, Grillers Original, Grillers Prime, Harvest Burger Original, Sausage Style Recipe Crumbles, and Tomato & Basil Pizza Burger.

The subscriber version of the article is available by Clicking here