Beverages Our Clients Are Buying
By
Tracy Beckmann
OSU Dietetic Intern
February 2013

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New products are introduced every day
Some ‘old’ products are still being pushmarketed
Many WIC clients purchase and use them
A good understanding of these products allows us to better educate our clients
Will be discussing “new” or “very popular” beverages

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Beverages on the market
Marketing claims and selling points
Nutrition content – how healthy are they?
Possible alternatives
Tools WIC clients can use

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What: Sparkling juice beverage by
Mountain Dew (Pepsi)
Why: Consumer demand for alternatives to traditional morning beverages
Who: Consumers of energy drinks AND consumers of morning beverages

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“Refreshing”
An alternative to juice or coffee that combines the best of both!
“Combines the great taste of Mountain
Dew with 5% real fruit juice and just the right amount of caffeine”
Also contains B and C vitamins
Available nationwide February 25, 2013

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In one 16 oz can:
◦ 80 calories
◦ 0 fat
◦ 19g sugar
◦ 92 mg caffeine

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Mountain Dew:
◦ 72mg caffeine (a little less than Kickstart)
◦ 0g fat
◦ 62g sugars (about 3x more than Kickstart)

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Orange Juice:
◦ 220 calories (about 3x more than Kickstart!)
◦ 0g fat
◦ 48g sugar (about 2.5x more then Kickstart)

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Coffee:
◦ 4 calories (MUCH less)
◦ about twice as much caffeine as Kickstart

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Summary: Kickstart has
◦ Less sugar than soda and OJ per 16oz
◦ Less caffeine than coffee per 16oz
◦ Added vitamins
But…
◦ Offers no other nutrition
◦ Not a real food
◦ Will it be eaten with breakfast or by itself?
Our goal: to help WIC clients eat well
Does this product help us do that?

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Whole Orange
◦ Fewer calories, less sugar, FIBER!
◦ (watered-down orange juice also works, but varying amounts of fiber – only if there’s pulp)
+
12-24 almonds
◦ Protein and healthy fats
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Fast, good for on-the-go mornings
More filling than soda, and better for you!

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What: beverage that combines vitamin C and several B vitamins with water
Why: easy to ingest, tastes better than water
Who: anyone interested in getting more vitamins
◦ Pregnant women with severe nausea & vomiting may be drinking it

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“Nutrient Enhanced Water Beverage”
Supports people in their “healthy, active, on-the-go lifestyle”
“Great tasting choice for hydration”
Also known as Energy Water
Some confusion regarding its “health” claims

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Per 20oz bottle:
◦ 125 calories
◦ 33g sugar
Some bottles may have added caffeine or herbs, depending on flavor
Lower-calorie versions are available
◦ Vitaminwater Zero has no calories, <1g sugar

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Coca-Cola:
◦ 240 calories (2x as much as Vitaminwater)
◦ 65g sugar (2x as much as Vitaminwater)

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Gatorade:
◦ 130 calories (same as Vitaminwater)
◦ 34g sugar (same as Vitaminwater)

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Summary: Vitaminwater
◦ Has vitamins
◦ May be tolerated by pregnant women with nausea/vomiting/diarrhea
But…
◦ May be ‘hidden’ source of sugar
◦ Offers no other real nutrition
◦ Good to ask why client is drinking it – purpose?
◦ OK for children?
Our goal: to help WIC clients eat well
Does this product help us do that?

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Tap Water
◦ Zero calories
◦ Good hydration
◦ Most pregnant women also take prenatal vitamins
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Can add lemon, mint, splash of juice for flavor
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Fruits and vegetables
◦ Contain water
◦ Contain vitamins and other nutrients such as FIBER – also good for pregnant women

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What: a probiotic drink
◦ Probiotics are “microorganisms normally found in the body…when delivered in adequate amounts…provide a health benefit”
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Why: Much research has been done on these
“healthy bacteria” and have shown many health benefits
◦ Reduced instances of colds, allergies and diarrhea
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Who: everyone – adults and children

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“Drinking Yakult daily may help balance your digestive system”
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Contains billions of live and active “good bacteria”
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“Make your body happy – drink Yakult everyday!”

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Per 2.7oz bottle
◦ 50 calories
◦ <1g protein
◦ 11g sugars
 Also available in a “light” version sweetened with
Stevia that has 4g sugars
◦ 4% Calcium
◦ 8 billion Lactobacillus casei Shirota bacteria

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GoGurt 2.25oz packages
 70 calories (40% more than Yakult)
 2g protein (twice as much)
 10g sugars (about the same)
 10% calcium (2.5 times as much)
 Unknown amount of Lactobacillus sp.

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Dan-o-nino 1.76oz containers
◦ 60 calories (15% more than Yakult)
◦ 3g protein (3 times as much)
◦ 7g sugars (40% less)
◦ 20% calcium (5 times as much)
◦ No probiotic cultures added

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Summary: Yakult has
◦ Reasonable number of calories
◦ Probiotic cultures
◦ Comparable amount of sugar to other probiotic products
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But…
◦ Number of “healthy bacteria” may not be enough to offer protective benefits
◦ Less protein and calcium than yogurt comparisons
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Our goal: to help WIC clients eat well
Does this product help us do that?

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Yakult may be a fine beverage to consume, but keep in mind
◦ Beverages may fill up little tummies when they should be eating food
◦ Alternatively, beverages (drinkable calories) may not be very filling and end up being unnecessary calories in diet
◦ Doesn’t offer other nutrients that yogurts do
(protein, extra calcium)

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We can help advise clients on beverages when we know the facts and can help educate them
BUT…
◦ Clients need skills so they can do this on their own
How can we help?
Give them the tools they need!

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Q: So, how can we encourage healthy choices for our clients?
◦ A: Explaining what foods and beverages make up good eating habits, or fact-based nutrition education
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Q: How can we best help our clients?
◦ A: By teaching them skills they can use on their own
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Q: How can we help clients develop these skills?
◦ A: Keep it simple! Show them it all comes down to the food groups

Does this food or beverage come from one of the food groups?
No Maybe Yes
This food may be a
“sometimes” food.
Consider saving it for a special day.
This food may have come from a food group, but has lots of sugar, salt or oil added. It may be a
“sometimes” food.
Consider saving it for a special day.
This food is an
“everyday” food and the right serving size should be eaten each day.

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Today we reviewed some new and/or popular beverage products
We discussed why they seem healthy and if we think they really are healthy
Came up with possible alternatives
Considered tools we can give our clients so they can help themselves

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Thank you for your participation today!
You care a great deal for your clients and want them to take good care of themselves and their family
Keeping informed about new items helps you do this
If you have any nutrition questions or see the need for nutrition education training, ask a dietitian!

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Choi C. Mountain Dew Kickstart: Soda Giant Unveils New Breakfast Drink. Huffington Post online. February 11, 2013. Accessed at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/11/mountain-dew-kickstart-breakfast-drink_n_2661188.html
PepsiCo Website. Discover An Entirely New Way To Do Mornings With Kickstart, An Entirely New Beverage From Mountain
Dew®. February 11, 2013. Accessed at http://www.pepsico.com/PressRelease/Discover-An-Entirely-New-Way-To-Do-Mornings-
With-Kickstart-An-Entirely-New-Bever02112013.html
Center for Science in the Public Interest. Coke Sued for Fraudulent Claims on Obesity-Promoting “VitaminWater.”Jan. 15, 2009.
Accessed on February 18, 2013 http://www.cspinet.org/new/200901151.html
PepsiCo Website. Nutrition Information for Gatorade. Accessed on February 18, 2013 at http://www.pepsicobeveragefacts.com/infobyproduct.php?prod_type=1026&prod_size=20&brand_fam_id=1043&brand_id=1002&pro duct=Gatorade+Orange
Van Puyenbroeck K et al. Efficacy of daily intake of Lactobacillus casei Shirota on respiratory symptoms and influenza vaccination immune response: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in healthy elderly nursing home residents. Am J Clin Nutr.
2012 May;95(5):1165-71. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.111.026831.
Kazuyoshi T & Okumura K. Effects of a Fermented Milk Drink Containing Lactobacillus casei Strain Shirota on the Human NK-Cell
Activity J. Nutr. March 2007 vol. 137 no. 3 791S-793S
Coca-Cola Website. Vitaminwater nutrition information. Accessed on February 18, 2013 at http://productnutrition.thecocacolacompany.com/products/glaceau-vitaminwater-focus
Yakult Probiotic Drink Nutritional Information. Accessed February 25, 2013 at www.yakultusa.com/yakult-nutrition-information.php
Dan-o-nino Yogurt Nutritional Information. Accessed February 25, 2013 www.dannon.com/pages/rt_ourproducts_danonino_cups.htm
Go-Gurt Yogurt Nutritional Information. Accessed February 25, 2013 at www.yoplait.com/products