Child-friendly MyPyramid Food Guidance System Could Help Tuna ff

Reds, Yellows, Oranges and Greens - Kids CAN Color Their Plate for Added Nutrition 

Child-friendly MyPyramid Food Guidance System Could Help Tuna

The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reminds families that eating a variety of packaged and canned fruits, vegetables and tuna offers healthy, colorful and great-tasting ways for children to adopt the new guidance system.

Getting Families Back to the Table 

There is a growing movement to educate Americans about the beneficial role that the family meal plays in the development, health and success of the nation’s children. 

Research indicates that children who consistently eat a healthful and balanced diet are more likely to do better in school, perform better on standardized tests and have less behavior problems. Additional studies have found that children who do not typically eat dinner with their parents are more likely to be overweight and are more likely to use illegal drugs, cigarettes and alcohol than those who eat dinner with their parents at least six times a week.

StarKist tuna products are ideally suited to help children, parents, guardians and teachers to follow the federal government's updated food guidance system for the consumption of fruits and vegetables, and choosing fats wisely.

Incorporate healthy eating into their daily lives. Offering families the ultimate in convenience, nutrition and year-round availability, several of Del Monte's fruit products are a good source of these important essential nutrients, including vitamins A and C, while many of Del Monte's vegetable and tomato products provide a convenient source of fiber, vitamin C and potassium. In addition, many Del Monte fruits are packed in light syrup or their own natural juices.

“One of the best things you can do as a parent is to color your child’s plate with a variety of nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables and lean proteins,” said Molseed. “The sooner a child starts to eat a healthful, balanced diet, the more likely that child will carry those healthful eating habits into their adulthood. I encourage parents to stock their pantries to have a variety of nutritious Del Monte products that are available at a moment's notice.”

Who Says Fresh is Best? -- A three-part study conducted by the University of Massachusetts found that recipes using canned ingredients are similar in nutritional and taste value to those made with fresh or frozen items when prepared in a meal. In addition, a nutrition study conducted by the University of Illinois showed that canned fruits and vegetables generally provide as much dietary fiber and nutrients as their cooked fresh and frozen counterparts. 

Choose Fats Wisely 

Recent studies show that consuming foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids can help maintain a healthy heart, lower blood pressure and is critical for a little one's brain development. 

Eating StarKist tuna is an excellent and affordable source of lean protein and essential vitamins and minerals. In fact, it is one of the easiest ways for consumers to add foods rich in Omega-3s to their diet and fulfill the twice-weekly servings of fish as recommended by the American Heart Association. StarKist tuna, the market leader and tuna category innovator, is available to consumers in canned varieties along with the first-in-class StarKist Flavor-Fresh Pouch®, which features a fresher-tasting tuna, and is conveniently packaged, and doesn't require draining or a can opener.
 

Additional innovative product offerings that provide consumers with variety in their diets include StarKist Tuna Filletsâ„¢ and StarKist Tuna Creationsâ„¢, featuring a variety of lightly marinated tuna in the Flavor-Fresh Pouch, along with the convenient StarKist Lunch To-Go® kits, which are ideal for a child's lunch box. 

Source: Press Release Delmonte Starkist