Those trying to look and feel better have more options when it to comes to mid-day snacks and meals, according to two new research studies recently presented by Omaha, Nebraska, USA-headquartered ConAgra Foods, Inc. at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ 2014 Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE). The findings illustrate how single-serving frozen meals help people eat less, and how consuming popcorn can make consumers feel more full and satisfied.
These, led by Kristin Reimers, PhD, RD, ConAgra Foods, reveal that frozen meals and popcorn are more satiating than snack and meal replacement bars. In fact, in the case of the frozen meal study, participants consumed fewer calories daily.
Registered dietitian and author of The Small Change Diet, Keri Gans, said, “This is great news for people who typically reach for popular meal replacement or snack bars when trying to cut calories, but want more flavorful food. While bars are convenient, eating a natural, high-fiber snack like popcorn or a convenient, hot meal like Healthy Choice or Marie Callender’s may be more satiating, as seen in these studies. This can translate into helping people eat less without feeling deprived.”
Single Serving Frozen Meals
Researchers compared frozen meals to meal replacement bars to determine which was more satisfying. Study participants’ usual lunches were replaced with either a Healthy Choice or Marie Callender’s frozen meal, or a meal replacement bar. Participants reported less hunger – and had less desire to eat in the afternoon – when they ate a frozen meal instead of a bar over three days. Replacing a typical meal with a frozen meal resulted in the greatest average calorie savings: 500 fewer calories daily, potentially adding up to weekly calorie savings of 3,500.
Popcorn vs. Snack Bar Study
Grocery aisles are packed with trendy snack bars promising various health benefits, which may be leading many to abandon traditional and healthful snack foods in favor of bars. In the popcorn study, researchers provided study participants 100 calories of either low-fat popcorn (Orville Redenbacher’s Smart Pop!), reduced-fat popcorn (Orville Redenbacher’s Gourmet Naturals), a chewy granola bar or a fruit/nut bar. Participants were then asked to rate their feelings of hunger and fullness. Compared to bars, participants reported feeling more full and satisfied after eating both low-fat and reduced-fat popcorn.
These findings build on previous research showing that popcorn is a highly satisfying snack choice, and portion-controlled frozen meals may help individuals reduce calories in an easy, convenient way. When people are searching for a satisfying way to reduce calories, enjoying a frozen single-serving meal or a 100 calorie popcorn snack are choices with clear benefits.
For more information about the studies, visit www.ConAgraFoodsScienceInstitute.com.
