Getting Your Family to Eat Their Veggies Has Never Been So Easy

21/05/07 According to a survey by the Produce for Better Health Foundation, common barriers for vegetable consumption are knowledge, lack of time and the high cost of fresh produce. Knorr Sides Plus Veggies helps break down these barriers by offering a low cost, fast solution that can be included in a larger recipe provided by Knorr. Knorr Sides Plus Veggies combines two full servings of vegetables per package with the storable nature of dried foods. By including vegetables with pasta and rice -- foods kids already enjoy -- moms can increase the likelihood of their families' vegetable consumption.

Knorr Sides Plus Veggies dry side dishes of rice or pasta are accompanied by an assortment of vegetables such as green beans, shitake mushrooms, broccoli, corn and carrots. The shelf storable packaging allows consumers to have a form of vegetables on-hand for any occasion. Premium flavors like Teriyaki Noodles with Asian Vegetables, Roasted Garlic Olive Oil and Broccoli Rotini, and Southwestern Style Rice appeal to today's more sophisticated, adventurous palates.

"Moms have told us they need quick, easy and tasty ways to get their families to eat more vegetables, and side dishes provide a great way to introduce more servings," said Barry Sands, Senior Brand Manager, Knorr. "Sides Plus Veggies add color to the dry sides category, dialing up the excitement and nutritional factor on today's family plate." Recipes incorporating Knorr Sides Plus Veggies have been created that meet the Produce for Better Health Foundation's nutrient and vegetable servings criteria for the Fruits & Veggies-More Matters logo as well as Unilever's own Eat Smart Drink Smart recipe program which helps consumers identify better-for-you recipes using products from Unilever.

Recipes include Asian Vegetable Noodle Salad, Chicken Vegetable Rollatini and Greek Chicken with Rice (recipes attached). In addition, Chicken and Artichoke Alfredo, Chicken Rice Vegetable Soup, Southwestern Tortilla Soup, Vegetable Risotto, and Veggie Taco Pie also meet Unilever's Eat Smart Drink Smart recipe criteria. All recipes can be found on-line at knorr.com.

"As American's tastes and nutritional needs evolve, Knorr has made a strong commitment to enhance both the appeal and nutritional profile of our portfolio. This is especially important as consumers are being encouraged to eat more vegetables, whole grains and fiber," said Sands.

As the Produce for Better Health Foundation continues to encourage people to eat more fruits and vegetables through its new Fruits and Veggies-More Matters public health initiative indicating that all forms of fruits and vegetables including fresh, frozen, canned, dried and 100 percent juice, count towards meeting the recommended intakes. Moreover, studies by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention call for the increased consumption of vegetables. The studies conclude that most Americans need to double their fruits and vegetables intake in order to meet the recommendations for a 2,000 kcal diet, further demonstrating the need for products such as Knorr Sides Plus Veggies to provide more convenient solutions for families.

Knorr Sides Plus Veggie come in six chef-inspired flavors including Alfredo Pasta Primavera, Teriyaki Noodles with Asian Vegetables, Roasted Garlic Olive Oil and Broccoli Rotini, Southwestern Style Rice, Cheddar Rice with Broccoli and Carrots and Roasted Chicken with Rice. Knorr Sides Plus Veggies provide shelf-stable vegetables that can be stored and then prepared in 9-12 minutes. They can be used as a side dish to accompany a meal, or as part of a nutritious recipe. They have a suggested retail price of $1.99 -- $2.29 and are currently shipping nationally.

*US Dietary Guidelines recommend a minimum of 5 servings per day (1 serving=1/2 cup). Sodium content in pre-packaged and dried foods is generally higher relative to other foods. Refer to the nutrition panel on the back of each Knorr Side Dish for sodium content. At Unilever, we are working diligently to reduce the levels to be as low as possible. In fact, we have already brought the sodium content down from previous years and are looking at alternative spices and flavors -- as well as the addition of vegetables and whole grains -- to continue making the dishes as optimal and tasty as possible.