Hy-Vee Healthybites

Are you familiar with the Hy-Vee healthybites newsletter? Every month a Hy-Vee dietitian puts together this newsletter for its customers and it provides fun tidbits on a variety of topics and includes monthly features, such as:

• Additional information and uses on the dietitian pick of the month
• Spotlights on three new or newer products on the market
• Featured monthly recipes
• Plus a one page article full of valuable information on nutrition and health

Here are a few excerpts from March’s Hy-Vee healthybites newsletter:

In case you haven’t heard, the dietitian pick of the month for March is avocados. The newsletter provided some helpful hints on how to know when an avocado is ripe and ready to eat:

Once the avocado is ripe and ready to use, the newsletter gave some great suggestions for how to make the ever-so-popular avocado toast and also provided some new and exciting toppings you may not have tried yet:

And because you’ll want to keep the other half of that avocado fresh for the next day’s avocado toast the newsletter provided tips for storing the remainder of the avocado to keep it from browning:

If you love staying in the loop on new products on the market then you will love this section of the newsletter. Here are March’s product spotlights:

Want to receive this newsletter directly in your inbox each month? Follow these simple steps:

1. Go to Hy-Vee.com.

2. Click on the ‘health’ tab at the top of the page.

3. On the left-hand side of the page click on ‘healthybites’.

4. Go to the bottom right-hand corner of the page to where it says ‘subscribe to e-newsletters’ and enter your email address and then click on ‘signup’.

5. Select ‘Health and Wellness’ to receive the monthly healthybites newsletter. You may select any other topics of interest as well.

6. Select the West Lakes store as your preferred Hy-Vee (West Des Moines, IA- 1725 Jordan Creek Parkway).

7. Confirm that you are not a robot…

8. Click on ‘subscribe’ and your monthly healthybites newsletters will be on their way!

-Dietitian Amanda

Balance Magazine Highlights

Another issue of Balance magazine is available in stores this month. See some dietitian highlights below!

After Hours: How to Curb Late-Night Cravings (p. 28)
Do you ever find yourself mindlessly browsing your kitchen cupboards or refrigerator well into the evening hours? It’s likely this kind of browsing isn’t triggered by hunger. This article provides some tips on how to avoid that late night snacking. It also provides tips on how to successfully snack smarter after hours when cravings are too intense to ward off.  

Myths of Metabolism (p. 50)
“You burn most of your calories while at rest. Exercise and diet determine the rest.” – Truth
“Everything eaten late at night turns to fat”. – Myth

Find out more truths and myths on metabolism in this article.

By the Glass (p. 56)

This article is a definitive guide to milk. Milk from all different sources; dairy, nut-based, rice, etc. You’ll find the nutrition profiles of seven different milks. “Each has its own color, taste and nutrition story.” My personal favorite is unsweetened almond milk. It has 30-40 calories per cup and is a great source of vitamin D and calcium. If you've never tried it before, I recommend combining it with cereal. Once your taste buds get acquired to the flavor and consistency, you may just be craving it by the glass!

Begin™ (back cover)

You may recall my mention of this program in the last issue of Balance. It is also mentioned on the final page of this issue. Begin™ is a ten-week lifestyle management program. If you’re looking to lose weight, eat healthier, or improve your blood sugar or cholesterol numbers, Begin™ is a great program to consider. Your West Lakes Hy-Vee will be hosting a Begin™ group class on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-7:30 pm beginning in April. For more details, be sure to contact myself or Amanda.  

What Fuels Mark Wahlberg (p. 18)

I couldn’t forget to mention Mark Wahlberg! He’s on the front cover of this issue and has an article on his new Performance Inspired nutrition line. From protein bars to protein powder, this line of products can fuel performance. Mark even gives a shout out to Hy-Vee Dietitians on page 25, saying “I love that they have dietitians at all their stores.” As you can see, Amanda and I are big fans J.

-Dietitian Natalie

Nutrition Facts Label Update

If you’re an avid nutrition facts label reader, you may start to notice some differences in the label you’re currently reading vs. the label you’re used to reading.

Here is a statement from fda.gov:

“On May 20, 2016, the FDA announced the new Nutrition Facts label for packaged foods to reflect new scientific information, including the link between diet and chronic diseases such as obesity and heart disease. The new label will make it easier for consumers to make better informed food choices.”

Below is a picture of the old label and the new label, side by side. Do you notice the differences?

I've stumbled upon this new label on a few different products throughout the store.  The picture below is from a KIND fruit and nut bar.  

The differences on this label include:

1.   The serving size and calories per serving are listed in a much larger font size.

2.   Calories from Fat is no longer listed.

3.   Vitamin D and Potassium are now one of the four vitamins/minerals listed with their percent daily values, while Vitamin A and Vitamin Care no longer listed.

4.   Total sugars and Added sugars are now listed under total carbohydrates.

I also noticed the new label on these spiralized vegetables from Nora and Ashley’s. 

The reason behind the changes.

The FDA has been very transparent with their reasoning behind the changes to the label.

“ Added sugars,” in grams and as percent Daily Value, will be included on the label. Scientific data shows that it is difficult to meet nutrient needs while staying within calorie limits if you consume more than 10 percent of your total daily calories from added sugar”

“ The list of nutrients that are required or permitted to be declared is being updated. Vitamin D and potassium will be required on the label. Calcium and iron will continue to be required. Vitamins A and C will no longer be required but can be included on a voluntary basis.

“ While continuing to require “Total Fat,” “Saturated Fat,” and “Trans Fat” on the label, “Calories from Fat” is being removed because research shows the type of fat is more important than the amount.

“ Daily values for nutrients like sodium, dietary fiber and vitamin D are being updated based on newer scientific evidence from the Institute of Medicine and other reports such as the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Report, which was used in developing the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Daily values are reference amounts of nutrients to consume or not to exceed and are used to calculate the percent Daily Value (% DV) that manufacturers include on the label. The %DV helps consumers understand the nutrition information in the context of a total daily diet.

You can find these statements and more information about the new label at: https://www.fda.gov/food/guidanceregulation/guidancedocumentsregulatoryinformation/labelingnutrition/ucm385663.htm#formats

According to the FDA, all food manufacturers are required to have this new label updated on their products by July 26, 2019.

As a Dietitian, this new label excites me.  I think all changes made are positive ones.  I am especially pleased to see the addition of “added sugar” to the label.  As nutrition research continues to be published, it’s apparent the link between diets high in added sugars and the increased risk of developing chronic diseases.

For any questions on this new label, be sure to reach out to your West Lakes Hy-Vee Dietitians. 

-Dietitian Natalie