Salads Give Meals A Healthy Boost During Winter Months
Contributed by: News Canada
(NC) - Whether you prefer leafy greens or crunchy cabbage, eating salad is the perfect way to add valuable nutrients to your diet during the cold winter months.
In fact, a recent Leger Marketing survey conducted on behalf of Renée's Gourmet, the Canadian leader in refrigerated salad dressings, showed that Canadians enjoy salads all year round and 60 per cent eat salad at least three times a week.
And of course, where would salad be without the dressing? According to ACNielsen data from March 2004, total sales of salad dressings were over $190 million, and fresh refrigerated dressings, those sold in the produce department, are a major contributor with a growth of 12 per cent over last year, doubling the growth rate of shelf stable dressings.
The survey also found:
- Western Canadians eat the most salads, with 66 per cent of Albertans and 63 per cent of British Columbians consuming salad at least three times per week
- Cut veggies are the most popular salad topping (56 per cent), followed by cheese (31 per cent) and croutons (22 per cent)
- Canadians' favourite salad dressing is Ranch
- Nearly one-third (32 per cent) of Canadians use fresh refrigerated dressings, and Canadian-owned Renée's Gourmet is the market leader in refrigerated salad dressings category
Salad dressings get to the "heart" of the matter
Researchers at Harvard University found that salad dressings, especially vinaigrette varieties, contain an important omega-3 fatty acid that has protective effects against heart disease. In their study, women who consumed one to two tablespoons of vinaigrette-style salad dressing five to six times a week had a 50 per cent reduction in heart disease.
Renée Unger, president and co-founder of Renée's Gourmet Dressings and Dips, understands the health benefits of salad dressing better than most, and her goal is to provide the healthiest and freshest tasting dressings for Canadians.
"Twenty years ago when we started our company we saw that Canadians were looking for healthier salad choices," says Renée. "All of our refrigerated dressings are made with canola oil, a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which ensures that they are low in saturated fat and low in cholesterol. In addition, there are no trans fats in any of our dressings , so they are good for your heart and delicious on any type of salad."
