Horizon Organic(R) Makeover Program Offers Simple Steps for Going Organic; Organic Coach Shows Consumers How to Make the Switch

While the number of Americans who have tried organic foods jumped to 65 percent last year, many consumers say they need information about the organic label and why organic foods are important to healthful living and well-being.

04/05/06 BROOMFIELD, Colo.--While the number of Americans who have tried organic foods jumped to 65 percent last year, many consumers say they need information about the organic label and why organic foods are important to healthful living and well-being.(1) In response, Horizon Organic(R), the leading manufacturer of organic dairy products, today unveiled an organic makeover initiative, partnering with moms to educate families about the benefits of organic.

Horizon Organic's makeover program features distinct steps for incorporating organic foods into a family's everyday life:

              Seven Simple Steps to an Organic Lifestyle

--  Step 1 - Take inventory and read labels
         --  Look inside your family's refrigerator and pantry. Be 
             sure to look beyond the nutritional panel to the 
             ingredient list. Do the labels include many ingredients 
             you've never heard of? Steer clear of added chemicals by 
             adding organic foods to your grocery lists.
--  Step 2 - Start with staples
         --  It's easy to make simple choices that make a big 
             difference in your family's eating habits. When creating 
             your grocery list, start adding organic "staples" like 
             organic dairy, fruits and vegetables.
--  Step 3 - Refuel with snacks
         --  Going too long without eating can make you feel tired and
             cranky. Healthy organic snacks that include protein and 
             carbohydrates - like organic cheese sticks or apples - 
             will help keep your energy levels high throughout the 
             day, and they are easy grab-and-go snacks.
--  Step 4 - Make lunches fun to educate kids on organic
         --  Eating habits are formed during childhood, so it's 
             important to consider what's in kids' lunchboxes and make
             preparation fun by involving the kids - provide them with
             several organic choices and let them choose what they eat
             for lunch. One of the easiest ways to increase school 
             lunch nutrition is to pack some of your kids' favorite 
             foods while opting for organic alternatives where you 
             can.
--  Step 5 - Look for the organic seal
         --  Products that have not been certified cannot be labeled 
             "organic." You should look for the USDA seal on products 
             to know the products are organic.
--  Step 6 - Experiment with organic recipes
         --  Once you have taken the step to add organic foods to your
             refrigerator or pantry, use organic in your everyday 
             recipes to show your family that organic foods taste 
             great! For instance, add some blended butternut squash to
             organic macaroni and cheese - this provides your family 
             with a vegetable and adds fun, natural color to the meal.
             For variety, look for delicious recipes for any meal or 
             occasion online at www.horizonorganic.com.
--  Step 7 - Be a role model
         --  If you lead by example and feed yourself nutritious 
             organic foods, your kids will develop similar healthy 
             eating habits. Teach your kids valuable lessons in 
             nutrition and good eating habits that they'll carry with 
             them.

Horizon Organic's makeover program seeks to illuminate how easy it is to go organic; how simple organic choices can make a difference for families, communities and the environment; and how organic products are good for consumers because they are produced without antibiotics, added growth hormones or dangerous pesticides.

As part of the makeover program, Horizon Organic, along with registered dietician and organic makeover coach Ellie Krieger - author and TV chef - will provide all of the steps, tips and ideas that moms and families need to go organic. Specifically, they will demonstrate how one family - actress Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, her husband Pete and their two children - can incorporate organic foods into their everyday lives.

"Everyone needs help. With two kids, it's hard getting the right foods that are not only healthy but taste good," said Bridgette. "This makeover program is easy, and I can't believe how much I'm learning about food and hope my experience can serve as a model for other families."

Consumers can go online at www.horizonorganic.com to obtain the same steps and also discover an array of tools to use for their organic makeover. The tools include organic household tips, sample grocery lists, meal plans, recipes, information on current organic research and other great resources and links.

"What I always hear from my clients is that they want to learn and understand how to eat better and feed their families," said Ellie. "Not only do you need to make it simple, you need to hand them the right tools, start out slowly and give them simple steps they can fold into their routine. Everyone starts at a different place."

As consumers grow knowledgeable about the health benefits of organic foods, they realize that simple choices like organic dairy can make a big difference in their families' lives.