Nutrition Moves Up on Mom's Purchasing Agenda

HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Nutrition has moved up on mom's shopping list, as three in four moms (74 percent) consider the nutritional content of foods they purchase for their children more now than they did two to three years ago, says a new survey from Ronzoni(R) Smart Taste(TM). Furthermore, two-thirds (65 percent) of moms are more concerned now compared to two to three years ago about their children's nutrition.

However, the battle between nutrition and taste rages on as parents are actively seeking healthier foods they can be sure their kids will like. According to the survey of approximately 1,000 moms with children ages 5-17, nutritional content is the number one factor considered when buying grocery products for their children (27 percent), but mom's desire for nutrition is followed closely by her child's preference (22 percent). Taste (21 percent) falls behind nutrition and kids' preferences as the number one factor.

Moms Confused About Fiber

When it comes to important nutrients like fiber, many moms think their children are consuming enough (62 percent) on a daily basis. However, only 13 percent of respondents are aware of the minimum daily requirement of fiber for children. The "age plus five" rule, developed by the American Health Foundation in 1995 and adopted by the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommends children's fiber intake equal their age plus five grams of fiber per day.

Calcium Conundrum

Furthermore, while 80 percent of moms believe their children get the recommended daily amount of calcium, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, among 6-11 year olds less than 40 percent of boys and 30 percent of girls ages 6-11 meet their daily calcium requirements. Among 12-19 year olds only 30 percent of boys and 10 percent of girls meet daily their calcium requirements.(1)

Ew, Mom!

Getting children to eat right is a timeless challenge for parents, and according to the survey, more than half (58 percent) of moms surveyed would describe their child as a finicky eater. "Doctoring up" a child's meal may pay off, since more than six in 10 (61 percent) moms agree that kids turn away food based on its appearance.

"Getting children to eat their vegetables and drink their milk are age-old challenges that parents will probably always face," said Missy Chase Lapine, The Sneaky Chef and author of The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals. "Striking a balance between taste and nutrition can be difficult, but fortunately it is possible to get the nutrients kids need into their diets in ways they will actually enjoy."

To help parents in their battle to get more calcium and fiber into their children's diets, Ronzoni has introduced Smart Taste pasta. With six grams of fiber per serving, Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta has three times the fiber as regular white pasta and as much calcium as an 8-ounce glass of milk per serving. It also cooks, looks and taste like regular white pasta, so kids won't know the difference.

Methodology

Synovate's eNation omnibus was used to collect the evaluations in October 2007. The sample consists of individuals selected from the online segment of Synovate's Consumer Opinion Panel and is balanced to be representative of the general population based upon region, gender, age, and household income data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The sample consists of females who were the parent or guardian of a child 5-17 years of age.

About New World Pasta

New World Pasta is a leading marketer and supplier of branded dry pasta and noodles in the United States and Canada. Headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, New World Pasta has over 600 employees in the United States and Canada.

(1) Optimizing Bone Health and Calcium Intakes of Infants, Children and Adolescents (Pediatrics. 2006 ;117:578 -585)

     CONTACT:  Alexis Tedesco
               M Booth & Associates
               (212) 539-3204
               alexist@mbooth.com