Kellogg's
Kellogg Company is the world's leading producer of cereal and a leading producer of convenience foods, including whole grain cereals in the Kashi brand line and veggie foods under the Morningstar Farms brand.
With the "veggie food" category at $434 million a year and category growth continuing to accelerate, every smart operator and menu manager in the foodservice industry is building their business by expanding their protein alternative menu choices and evaluating options for adding meat-free entrees.
Meat eaters as well as vegetarians are interested in balancing their diets by adding more vegetables each day. The Morningstar Farms® product support from Kellogg's® Food Away From Home provides an operator with both front and back of the house support in the form of a Morningstar Farms™ recipe book that will let operators preview creative and practical menu ideas.
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that people who eat more protein from vegetables tend to have lower blood pressure. The answer may lie in the protective benefits of amino acids found in vegetable proteins. In addition, soy protein contains isoflavones, such as genistein and daidzein, that act as phytoestrogens and may inhibit tumor growth, lower blood cholesterol levels, decrease the risk of blood clots, and diminish bone loss. These benefits clearly translate into a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and osteoporosis.
For operators tapping into the healthy "grab-and-go" snack business, Kashi breakfast foods and snacks are leading the way with zero grams trans fat, and no refined sweeteners, artificial ingredients, or cholesterol. Their "Good for You – Great Taste" message is helping operators stay on the trend and reach new customers.
Increasing whole grain intake among consumers is one of the largest challenges ahead for food companies. Recent epidemiological data and clinical studies continue to show a strong positive link between whole grain intake and a variety of important health benefits. People who eat more whole grain foods have better cardiovascular health, weight, and blood sugar levels. It is the total grain package—dietary fiber, healthy fats, plant-protein, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients— that promote and maintain good health. In the Nurses' Health Study, the highest consumption of whole grains was associated with a 35-40 percent reduction in risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
Consumers are increasingly seeking more healthful options for their meal choices and are willing to pay more for them. Kashi and Morningstar Farms products provide menu developers with convenient, health-promoting foods that provide a wide range of appealing options for healthy menu R&D.
References
Paul Elliott, MB, et al. Association between protein intake and blood pressure. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166:79-87.
Messina V, Burke K. Position of The American Dietetic Association: Vegetarian Diets. J Am Diet Assoc 1997; 97: 1317-21.
Key TJA, Thorogood M, Appleby PN, et al. Dietary habits and mortality in 11,000 vegetarians and health conscious people: results of 17-year follow up. BMJ 1996;313:775-79.
J Salmeron, J Manson, M Stampfer, et al. JAMA 1997;277:472-77
Joanne Slavin, Whole Grains and Human Health. Nutrition Research Reviews, May 2004; Vol 17: 99-110