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New Year's Resolution No. 711

(Tuesday, January 02, 2007) - It's that time of year … again: January, the beginning of a new year and the time when many Americans begin to weigh in with their resolutions. As the holiday eating season comes to a close; however, they also are weighing heavier on their bathroom scales. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 60 percent of U.S. citizens are overweight and millions will make annual promises this week to eat less, eat better, exercise more and otherwise resolve to begin a healthier lifestyle.
Oh thank heaven for 7-Eleven® stores and their 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 and 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 cholesterol and sodium-intake, or just trying to make some healthier choices," said Cynthia Davis, 7-Eleven, Inc.'s senior vice president of merchandising.

The following are hints for shopping healthy at 7-Eleven. Because each store's product assortment is tailored to its customers' needs not all items listed below will be found in all stores. However, every store carries similar "better-for-you" and healthy choices.

Fresh and Better Choices
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. Look for sandwiches made on whole grain breads for additional fiber. These sandwiches are available in most 7-Eleven stores, which receive fresh foods daily.

Five-a-Day Fruits and Veggies
Sales of fresh fruits and vegetables have been healthy at 7-Eleven stores. A variety of cut-up fruits in cups (a perfect fit for a car cup-holder) are available, such as grapes, pineapple, mango, watermelon, cantaloupe and strawberries. Whole or sliced and bagged apples, oranges and bananas are perfect to stick in a lunch box for a healthy between-meal snack.

Most Americans fall far short of eating the number of vegetable servings suggested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture food pyramid. 7-Eleven serves up an array of fresh salads like chef, Cobb, chicken Caesar and Asian-style chicken. Veggie trays with baby carrots and celery sticks come with or without Ranch dressing and cheese.

New Naked 100% Juice fruit smoothies offer the equivalent of a pound of fruit in every bottle. V-8 vegetable and fruit juices are other options to increase fruit and veggie intake.

The Magic Number: 100 Calories
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 percent less fat per serving than fried potato chips. Baked Frito-Lay chips and Quaker rice snacks are other low-calorie, low-fat alternatives.

Soup to Nuts
7-Eleven's new fresh-made Chicken Noodle soup offers a hot and hearty lunch option with only 180 calories, 4.5 grams of fat and 0 trans-fat grams. Look for low-calorie varieties of dried noodle soups in the grocery section. Nuts and seeds, particularly almonds, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, continue to be cited for their healthful benefits.

Better Beverages
Well over half of 7-Eleven's customers choose a beverage as part of their purchase. Whether at the vault, hot beverage bar, soft drink fountain or Slurpee machine, a better-for-you beverage awaits.

Water doesn't just wet your whistle anymore. Besides spring and sparkling varieties, 7-Eleven carries new Stacker2 Dieters Water and Life Water-brand vitamin-enhanced water, infused with vitamins and minerals. With low-fat milk, 100-percent juices, sports drink to replenish fluids after a strenuous workout and bottled teas, there is no shortage of healthy choices. Hot tea and 7-Eleven's famous coffee are popular, no-calorie beverages; choose decaf varieties if you are watching caffeine intake. Diet and low-calorie fountain beverages and Crystal Lite Slurpee® drinks ensure that calorie-counting, cold-drink fans won't go wanting.

How Sweet It Is
Dark chocolate is the latest news and trend to recently hit the candy section, and scientific studies credit it with improving heart health and high blood pressure. CocoVia Heart Healthy Snacks claim to help lower cholesterol and improve circulation. 7-Eleven carries CocoVia chocolate bars and chocolate-covered almonds.

Banking Calories
A diet soft drink and a candy bar? It's called banking calories, and some people who don't want to give up their favorite treat will cut calories elsewhere to leave room in their daily calorie count to allow for the occasional treat.

"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."

But food intake is only half the battle. Exercise plays a vital role, and while Americans overindulge when it comes to eating, they exercise even less. 7-Eleven can help there as well. "Because our stores are convenient, you can generally walk to your neighborhood 7-Eleven store to satisfy a craving," added Davis.

About 7-Eleven, Inc.
7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience retailing industry. Based in Dallas, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses more than 7,100 7-Eleven® stores in North America. Globally, 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses more than 31,000 stores in 17 countries and U.S. territories. During 2005, 7-Eleven stores worldwide generated total sales of approximately $43 billion. Find out more online at www.7-Eleven.com.

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