Caribou Coffee Latest to offer Oatmeal

In an article that i read, a place called Caribou Coffee is going to start offering oatmeal options on their menu. Click here to read article. Caribou Coffee is a small chain of 500 and they have taken into consideration the benefits of eating oatmeal, such as lowering ones bad cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart disease.
They are offering a variety of oat meals that include apple cinnamon, cranberry orange, maple brown sugar crunch and very berry. The price if the oatmeal is not too expensive, ranging from 3.49 with a medium coffee and 4.99 with a latte. Consumers can also add a topping to their oats and they include any threeapple-cinnamon, strawberry compote, orange compote, dried cranberries, golden raisins, almonds, maple syrup and maple brown sugar crunch. Not only is Caribou Coffee starting to offer oatmeal but they are also starting to offer the option of healthier milk for the oatmeal. One can choose from a choice of soy, skim or 2 percent milk. Caribou says that its food offerings will continue to change in the upcoming years offering other healthy options to keep up with competitors such as Starbuck's new low calorie panini, and Jamba Juice's new oatmeal flavor juice.
This new trend of healthy food options going to be the new way to reach out to people and I feel that it just may start getting American consumers to think about the food that they are eating. Caribou's simple addition of oatmeal is just one small step in the huge leap to change the way Americans consume food.

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Eating Healthy on the Go and on a Budget!

Hello Everyone,

I found a few articles about fast food resturants that are targeting a healthier audience. Quick Service resturants such as Dounkin Donuts, Taco Bell and even KFC are all serving healthier meals for less than or around 5 bucks. I read this article that was found in NRN that tocuhed base on DD's new addition. The Wake-Up wrap is an all egg white and cheese wrap that is only 150 at only $1.00 you can't beat it. Here's the link so you can check out the article! Here is also the link for the Dounkin Donuts so you could take a look at the new healthy menu for yourself.

KFC and Taco Bell are also offering low calorie entree for half the price. They have a special going on that you can get a meal for $3.59 cents that has only 359 calories. Taco Bell now offers an entire menu that has healthy foods such as Fresco Crunchy Taco with 150 calories. If you don't like the crunchy there is the Fresco Bean Burrito that has 340 calories but it includes beans. Here's the link to the new Drive-Thru Diet which includes tacos and burritos that you can either add in steak, chicken, ground beef or even veggie.

Overall there are more options to eat healthy on the go. There are no excuses to why people can't eat healthy now on a budget. Not only are these menus healthy there tasty and affordable. It's a win win situation, well at least it is in my book. Of course without regular exercise these diets won't work so rememeber, eat right, eat healthy and exercise lots!


Thanks for reading,

Leya

So, I've seen alot of articles about lower calorie items on menus for chain restaurants as well as fast food. This article called "Starbucks to debut lower-calorie items" is one of them.

On January 7,2010, Molly Gise announced Starbucks' new line of low calorie paninis and snacks. These paninis are said to have 400 calories or less, and the snacks which include brands like KIND bars, Annie's snacks and Stretch Island Fruit Company, will be 220 calories or less.

These paninis will be available in 4,200 locations and the snacks are available at multiple participating locations.

New low calorie beverages are also going to be new on the Starbucks menu. I usually get the skinny lattes at Starbucks, but I am excited to see that they are adding a Skinny Cinnamon Dulce Latte as well as a Skinny Vanilla latte; both of which for a size "tall" have only 90 calories!

I am happy to see that many chains and fast food restaurants are turning to healthier options. It is hard to be on the go and find something some what nutritional and low-calorie to grab. Hopefully the Starbucks near our school will have these new additions to their menu!

(Jan. 8, 2010) In this season of calorie counting and New Year’s resolutions, restaurant chains are reaching out to health-focused consumers with diet-friendly options.
For some, the move may also be a reaction to menu-labeling requirements in New York, California and other markets aimed at making calorie content more transparent to consumers. Proposed federal health care legislation is also expected to include menu-labeling requirements.
However, with the push for more calorie disclosure comes questions about the accuracy of nutrition data. A study in this month’s Journal of the American Dietetic Association indicates that not all calorie postings at restaurant chains and on frozen-food labels are correct.
This month, chains such as Starbucks, Corner Bakery, Applebee’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, Taco Bell, and KFC are promoting new lower-calorie options.
Starbucks will soon debut four new hot panini sandwiches, each with fewer than 400 calories, at more than 4,200 stores with warming ovens. The warmed-to-order sandwiches include a Chicken Santa Fe panini; a roasted tomatoes and mozzarella panini; a ham and Swiss panini; and a tuna melt panini.
In addition, Starbucks’ U.S. stores will be adding a new line of snacks with 220 calories or fewer per serving, such as portion-controlled Annie’s Snacks; multigrain and sweet potato chips by FoodShouldTasteGood; grab-and-go Kind Bars; Lucy’s Cookies; fruit-based Peeled Snacks; Peter Rabbit brand organic treats; nut-based Sahale Snacks; Two Moms in the Raw granola mixes; and Stretch Island Fruit Company-brand fruit leather.
Starbucks is also promoting a new vanilla rooibos full-leaf tea, which is calorie free without milk or sugar, and the Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte and Skinny Vanilla Lattes, which each have fewer than 90 calories per 12-ounce size.
Dallas-based Corner Bakery Café this week introduced “100 under 600,” a program showcasing more than 100 soup, salad and sandwich combinations under 600 calories at its more than 100 units.
“So many people give up on their resolution to eat healthy because they feel like they have to sacrifice their favorite foods,” said Ric Scicchitano, Corner Bakery’s vice president of food and beverage. “Our guests find that it’s easier to keep their resolutions when they dine with us, because, with over 100 different soup, salad and sandwich combinations under 600 calories, they can enjoy great tasting, but sensible meals year round without making drastic changes to their diet.”
Among the options: chicken pesto on ciabatta with roasted tomato basil soup; a club panini and chicken noodle soup; or the D.C. Chicken Salad Sandwich with a Caesar salad. The full list is posted on the chain’s website at www.CornerBakeryCafe.com/100under600.
Guests also are invited to respond to questions on healthy eating, nutrition and exercise by following Corner Bakery on Twitter for a chance to win a free combo meal.
Dunkin’ Donuts, a 8,800-unit subsidiary of Canton, Mass.-based Dunkin’ Brands Inc., said this month that any of its breakfast sandwiches and wraps can now be ordered with egg whites to reduce calories and fat. Read more: http://www.nrn.com/breakingNews.aspx?id=377992&menu_id=1368#ixzz0cQ2ntMTO

Hold The Salt!

I found an article written by The New York Times entitled, Citing Hazard, New York Says Hold the Salt, that was addressing a recent issue within New York City. The latest fad that NYC is undertaking is to curtail the amount of salt in food manufacturers and restaurant chains across the country.

Today, January 11, 2010, the Bloomberg administration planned to unveil the new health initiative to the public. The administration wants to be able to reduce the amount of sodium by 25% over the next 5 years. This will easily reduce high blood pressure and other health conditions that many consumers have. This plan is voluntary and involves no legislation but there needs to be cooperation on a national level to achieve this goal.

Such companies as A & P supermarkets and Subway have agreed to follow through with this new goal. A & P is ready to help its consumers and the products they buy within the 435 supermarkets throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region. Subway has planned to cut the sodium amount in 23,000 stores nationwide.

Yet, there are companies such as Campbell Soup Company, that say they wouldn't join NYC's initiative because "there's no one size fits all".

After reading this article, I thought it was a very noble cause that the Bloomberg administration was trying to pursue. I am definitely a fan of this administration and what they are trying to do for America over the next 5 years. I think that American's consumer too much salt and trying to reduce the amount that is put in packaged foods, frozen foods, and chain foods, would help this country and its people!