McCain: Oven baked french fries affordable, nutrient rich alternative to pasta and rice

Eating well in tough economic times can be well... tough. Consumers look to spend less on groceries often at the expense of nutrition but there are choices available that are better for you and economical.

"Good nutrition is non-negotiable - to stay healthy you have to eat a varied balanced diet - even if the budget is tight,"says Rose Reisman,best-selling author, nutrition consultant and national spokesperson for McCain Foods (Canada).
"There are ways to eat healthier on a lower budget. For instance, the potato is Canada's favourite vegetable and an incredible source of nutrition. But most Canadians don't recognize the fact that potatoes are a healthy choice when eaten in moderation."

In the current economy, consumers are spending less on food and are changing their behaviour in other ways as a result of higher food prices worldwide. According to a global consumer landscape study produced for McCain Foods by TNS, one of Canada's largest social research organizations, affordable nutrition plays a critical role, with 41 per cent of Canadian consumers saying that they can't afford to eat better.

The TNS study also found that 87 per cent of Canadian households have recently made changes in their behaviour. Nearly two-thirds of consumers are seeking out specials and coupons more often than before and over half of consumers are eating out less.

There are alternatives available for eating well on a budget, says Reisman.

"My philosophy is simple - everything in moderation. A healthy balanced diet does include carbohydrates such as potatoes. The potato is a nutritional powerhouse. Potatoes include many essential nutrients such as potassium, vitamin C, some B vitamins, magnesium, iron and fibre. "

A Healthy Living survey conducted by GPC Research, polled consumers about their "potato perceptions."Many people mistakenly believe that when a potato is processed into French fries, the nutrients are lost forever.

"All potatoes, including oven-baked French fries, can be enjoyed as part of a healthy diet as a more nutrient rich alternative to rice or pasta,"said Reisman. "The potato is inexpensive, filling and nutritious... all good reasons to eat potatoes at a time of higher food prices."