Uncle Ben’s have launched a ‘Make a Healthier Plate with Ben’ campaign, to encourage Ireland to think about the food on their plate and to show how small, practical changes can dramatically and quickly upgrade how healthy the plate is. New research1 from Uncle Ben’s, reveals that Irish people believe it takes longer than it actually does to create a healthy meal and this time barrier prevents many from eating as healthy as they would like.
- Eight in ten believe it takes 30 minutes plus to prepare and cook a healthy meal from pan to plate, with 1 in 3 stating it takes 45 minutes or longer to prepare and cook a healthy meal.
- One in four believe it takes twice as long to cook a healthy, well balanced meal versus your average mid-week meal, with younger people (18 -34) more likely to think that cooking a healthy meal takes longer than their older counterparts.
- Many struggle with a lack of inspiration when it comes to meal preparation with three in ten cooking on autopilot and one in five cooking on convenience.
- Despite this making healthier dinnertime choices make 70% of people feel more in control of their life and believe it improves their mobility. 79% of people surveyed also believe that eating healthy gives them more energy and helps them control their weight (82%).
To help get the nation thinking about and cooking healthier plates Uncle Ben’s has teamed up with a panel of ‘Healthy Pairs’, who share one thing in common, a passion for tasty, healthy food. Each week or five weeks and the ‘Healthy Pairs’ will share short, snappy videos of their
recipes on www.facebook.com/unclebensireland/ and on @UncleBensIRE which can be made in less than 20 minutes or less and invite the nation to vote on their favourite. The panel includes; Roz Purcell who will be joined her friend, photographer Evan Doherty; presenter and designer duo Brendan Courtney and Sonia Lennon; Snapchat superstar James Kavanagh and his partner, in life and business, Currabinny’s foodie William Murray; the brothers behind Sprout & Co. Jack and Theo Kirwan will also face off, as will Chopped’s Brian Lee and MMA fighter Cathal Pendred.
The campaign is founded in the robust health credentials of wholegrain and grains and is inspired by the healthy eating plate2, a new tool that complements the food pyramid as an easy way to translate healthy eating recommendations directly to our plates. The healthy eating plate tells us that whole grains form the cornerstone of a healthy meal. Supporting the launch of the campaign are foodie and fitness fan Roz Purcell and RTE’s ‘What Are You Eating’ dietician Orla Walsh MINDI SEDI.
Uncle Ben’s ‘Healthy Pair’, Roz Purcell said: “It can be hard to find the time to cook a healthy meal and there are so many fad low carb diets out there. For me it’s always been important to eat nutritious, tasty food, first and foremost, and eat for health. I have learned that cooking healthy food doesn’t take long but it is always great to have products that you can reach for that are convenient and healthy. The Ben’s Rice & Grains range is great as its healthy cooked wholegrains without anything nasty added to it. It’s so easy to throw it into the pan and it’s ready in minutes. I hope everyone tries my power pancakes recipe – you can find it on https://www.facebook.com/unclebensireland/”.
Dietitian Orla Walsh added: “Uncle Ben’s research revealed that for most people their main concern when making a meal is the presence of all food groups in the recommended amounts, with four in ten saying that is more important than calorie counting. However many people don’t know what the correct proportions of each nutrient they should eat or what the best quality foods are. About one quarter of every meal should be healthy carbohydrates but there is a big difference between chips or white bread and wholegrain rice or quinoa. Wholegrains are the perfect choice as they are nutrient dense, slow release energy, and have a low impact on blood sugar ensuring a steady release of energy fueling your body in the best way. It’s also interesting that younger people (18-35) are more concerned about the amount of calories on the plate rather than about nutrient rich food. The healthy plate is an easy tool for everyone to use to upgrade their meal. The Uncle Ben’s range is a really easy way for people to reach for a convenient, yet healthy product that they can open and it’s ready in minutes.”
It couldn’t be easier to ‘Make a Healthier Plate with Ben’. Simply join the Uncle Ben’s Facebook community, https://www.facebook.com/unclebensireland/ for recipe ideas and inspiration.
1 Uncle Ben’s Research
Uncle Ben’s Research was conducted with a total sample size 1000 adults 18+. Fieldwork was conducted in April 2016.
2 About the Healthy Eating Plate
The healthy eating plate is a new way to look at meal preparation and healthy eating, and is based on the best scientific evidence about the links between diet and health. We all grew up with the food pyramid educating us about how often we should eat which foods. The healthy eating plate is a new tool that complements the food pyramid, as an easy way to translate healthy eating recommendations directly to our plates.
The healthy eating plate focuses on food groups and the quality of the food rather than calorie counting. For example it recommends whole grains on one quarter of your plate – as opposed to white bread, white rice, and other refined grains. Whole grains have a milder effect on blood sugar and insulin, and are a more nutritious choice for your meal.
You can use the healthy eating plate as a guide for creating healthy, balanced meals (whether served on a plate or not!). More information on the healthy eating plate is available here:http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy-eating-plate/
The Rice & Grains range includes:
- Wholegrain & Quinoa
- 5 Whole grains
- Rice Medley
- Wholegrain & Quinoa – Tomato & Basil
- Wholegrain & Quinoa Pinto Bean & Chilli
- Wholegrain & Quinoa Soy & Ginger
The campaign aims to inspire people to cook healthier, more nutritious meals with Ben and enable them to make small, realistic changes to their plate – reaping health and taste benefits.