DALLAS -- 7-Eleven Inc. stores are reminding resolution-conscious consumers that its stores offer an expanding selection of better-for-you foods. Fresh fruits and vegetables, salads, lower-calorie sandwiches, portion-control snacks, energy and protein bars, dark chocolate candy, sugar-free Slurpee drinks, vitamin-enhanced waters, yogurt, meal-replacement shakes are among the many healthy food options that can be found throughout the store.
7-Eleven has products customers want and need whether they are counting calories, fat grams, carbohydrates, watching [image-nocss] cholesterol and sodium-intake, or just trying to make some healthier choices, said Cynthia Davis, 7-Eleven's senior vice president of merchandising.
7-Eleven Pick Smart fresh foods offer lower fat and calorie content. All items carrying the Pick Smart label are required to have no more than 10 grams of fat or 420 calories. Selections vary by store. Other ways to reduce fat grams and calories in fresh-made sandwiches include choosing ones without cheese and dressing sandwiches with mustard instead of mayonnaise, the chain said. Sandwiches made on whole grain breads for additional fiber are available in most 7-Eleven stores, which receive fresh foods daily.
Sales of fresh fruits and vegetables have been healthy at 7-Eleven stores. A variety of cut-up fruits in cups are available, such as grapes, pineapple, mango, watermelon, cantaloupe and strawberries.
7-Eleven serves a variety of fresh salads such as chef, Cobb, chicken Caesar and Asian-style chicken. Veggie trays with baby carrots and celery sticks come with or without Ranch dressing and cheese.
Portion control has been the name of the game in the snack industry this past year as more food manufacturers offer limited-calorie versions of their most popular snacks. 7-Eleven stores carry 100-calorie snack packs of Doritos and Cheetos from Frito-Lay and Chocolate-Covered Wafer Bars and Pretzels from Hershey, as well as Ritz and Pita Thins Toasted Chips from Nabisco, which have 40% to 70% less fat per serving than fried potato chips. Baked Frito-Lay chips and Quaker rice snacks are other low-calorie, low-fat alternatives.
7-Eleven's new fresh-made Chicken Noodle soup offers a lunch option with 180 calories, 4.5 grams of fat and 0 trans-fat grams. It also offers low-calorie varieties of dried noodle soups in the grocery section.
More than half of 7-Eleven's customers choose a beverage as part of their purchase, and the stores offer better-for-you beverages at the vault, hot beverage bar, soft drink fountain or Slurpee machine.
Besides spring and sparkling varieties, 7-Eleven carries new Stacker2 Dieters Water and Life Water-brand vitamin-enhanced water, infused with vitamins and minerals. And it has low-fat milk, 100% juices, sports drinks and bottled teas.
CocoVia Heart Healthy Snacks claim to help lower cholesterol and improve circulation, and 7-Eleven carries CocoVia chocolate bars and chocolate-covered almonds.
While New Year's resolutions typically include some form of diet, most people are looking for more balance in their life, Davis said. They don't want to be confined to a specific diet, but are looking for a more balanced lifestyle and healthier choices. 7-Eleven offers healthier choices, and you don't have to look very hard to find them.
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