NPB Helping Consumers Eat More Plant-based Diet

The National Peanut Board (NPB) has bowed a new website, skinnyonnuts.com, which aims to help consumers sift through the recently issued Dietary Guidelines for Americans and boost their consumption of nuts and other plant-based foods. The creation of the website was the result of research commissioned by the Atlanta-based board, which found, among other things, that while most consumers agreed with recommendations in the guidelines for Americans to eat a diet containing more plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, only a third thought they know how to do so.

“Americans have never been more conscious about eating nutritious foods, but they’re saying they need help to turn that desire into action,” noted registered dietitian Deanna Segrave-Daly.

In addition to facts about plant-based diets, the new site offers nutrition and health information, recipes, and snack ideas. It also provides tips on gluten-free eating and managing food allergies.

“When you consider that 90 percent of American pantries contain one or more jars or peanut butter, sometimes the challenge is as straightforward as connecting the dots to foods people already enjoy,” said NPB president and managing director. Raffaela Marie Fenn. “That’s precisely why we created this new site.”

Other research findings included:

• 66 percent of respondents thought they are very or generally knowledgeable about nutrition and diet overall, but just 33 percent said they are very or generally knowledgeable about plant-based diets
• 67 percent were unaware that eating a more plant-based diet could help control overeating and cravings
• 38 percent said they mostly or usually consume a plant-based diet, with 68 percent admitting they definitely or probably should eat more plant-based foods.
• Respondents pinpointed three particular challenges that impeded their ability to eat a more plant-based diet: eating out or eating at other peoples’ homes, sticking to a plant-based diet, and finding tasty, enjoyable foods and recipes.
• Fewer than half (41 percent) of respondents said they are very or generally knowledgeable about nuts, their nutritional value or their role in a more plant-based diet.

Among the advice dished out by the NPB to consumers:

• Choose a range of protein-rich foods: With 7 grams of protein per serving, peanuts have more protein than any other nut.
• Lower daily sodium intake to under 2,300 milligrams daily: Peanuts are naturally low in sodium.
• Eat less than 20 grams of unsaturated fat and less than 300 milligrams of dietary cholesterol per day: Peanuts contain 2 grams of unsaturated fat, and peanuts and peanut butter contain no cholesterol.

The national survey of 1,000 U.S. adults age 18 and older was conducted Feb. 2-4 and drawn from Wilton, Conn.-based Toluna/Greenfield Online’s panel of 3 million Americans.