010604 American Know HOW to Cook Right; Often Don’tJune 6, 2001Internet Wire -- A large majority of U.S. adults (75%) know that changing the way they prepare food can be better for their health, but only half (49%) say they have made the changes they should. According to findings from the "Filippo Berio Olive Oil Food And Family Traditions Survey," as many as one-third (32%) of those who have not made changes say they are still not sure how to incorporate healthier choices into the way they eat. The survey also shows a mix of food attitudes and behaviors when it comes to summer eating habits. While almost half (49%) of respondents say they change the way they eat in the summer so that foods are healthier for themselves and their families, about a quarter of the people say they do not diet (25%) or change their eating habits and recipes even though they think they should (21%). "What we see from this survey is that people want to eat right, but they're not always sure how to do that," said Dave Scheiber, Director of Marketing for Filippo Berio Olive Oil. "The reality is there are lots of simple ways to serve up good nutrition with great taste." The top reasons cited by those not making healthier choices in how they eat: 80% don't want to change the taste, 50% don't want to change the way some foods have traditionally been prepared, and 32% are not sure what ingredients or products to substitute. At the same time, a large majority of Americans (70%) believe that incorporating traditions to observe holidays and special occasions helps to add comfort and balance to the hectic pace of life today, and 57% say that holidays and special occasions are times when they look for different foods to add to their meals. "We want people to know they can celebrate and enjoy healthy food traditions without sacrificing taste," said Scheiber. "At Filippo Berio Olive Oil we have more than a 100-year tradition of being an Italian family business, so we know how important it is to help people maintain a sense of tradition in their families that is real and relevant to today's tastes and busy lifestyles." Shaping Up Summer According to the survey, more than a third of respondents (36%) say they look for new recipes for their families and for summer entertaining, and many (76%) say they include seasonal fruits and vegetables to vary their cooking routine. "Summer is a great time to shape up traditional foods and eating habits," said Scheiber. "And because it is a time to relax and entertain, people are hungry for quick ways to make their meals healthier and still celebrate the flavor of foods." Some of the ways respondents said they change how they eat in the summer include updating recipes and by using different methods of cooking, especially grilling. Some said they are also adding chicken, fish and fruit salad in place of traditional summer holiday foods like hamburgers, hot dogs and chips. Tradition Over High Tech: Sources Of Food Information When it comes to where people are getting their food information, many people (65%) say friends and family are the most influential sources of information for new foods and preparation techniques, followed by newspapers and magazines (44%). Thirty-seven percent claim that cooking programs on television are among influential sources for learning new ways to prepare food. Only 12% say they go to the Internet for food or cooking information. Olive Oil Users According to the survey, 44% of respondents have started using olive oil as a substitute for other fats and oils, with an additional 13% recognizing the value of doing so. The survey also shows that olive oil converts are more likely than others to have made other healthy changes to their diets, with 72% having reduced saturated fats in their diet, and 65% having added more fresh fruits and vegetables (compared to 57% and 48%, respectively, of respondents overall). "We're not sure what came first, the chicken or the egg, but we know that some of the more health-conscious people are using olive oil to cook them both," said Scheiber. The "Filippo Berio Olive Oil Food and Family Traditions Survey" of 1,016 adults is part of the company's effort to provide information on the role of food and traditions in the U.S. today. The telephone omnibus study was conducted by International Communications Research between February 23 and 27, 2001, and has a 3% margin of error.
E-mail: sflanagan@sprintmail.com |
