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he past 2 decades have seen anincrease in the portion sizes ofcommonly consumed foods, which

ould be a contributor to the in-reased prevalence of overweight andbesity. As Young and Nestle noted in003, “Most marketplace portions ex-eed standard serving sizes by ateast a factor of two and sometimesight-fold” (1).However, recently companies have

egun aggressively promoting on-he-go servings of peanut butter, pre-ade salads, and soups. The impetus

f this trend has been less aboutealth concerns and more about in-reasingly busy lives.

“There is an overall shift in life-tyles. People multitask every aspectf their lives now,” says Daniellearta, Campbell Soup Company’sarketing manager for soup. “If they

an save time by eating on the runnd have it be a nutritional item asell, why not kill two birds with one

tone?” Campbell’s portable Soup atand line has been active since 2001,

rowing from four flavors to morehan a dozen in 2005 (2). Marta sayshe target audience was originallywomen on the go,” but now the brandas become strong enough to market toeen, tween, and other demographics.

Food lines such as the Nabisco 100alorie Packs are following the trendf providing smaller portion sizes.ow consumers can purchase bite-

ize packs of Oreos, Wheat Thins, andther cookies and crackers (3). “These00 calorie pouches of foods are a re-ponse to nutritionists as well asome conscious consumers,” says Ritarandgenett, MS, RD, former man-ger of nutrition for the Kellogg Com-any.Some food and nutrition profession-

ls say that purchasing on-the-goizes on some level makes clientshink about portion control, some-

This article was written byDamon Brown, a freelancewriter in Long Beach, CA.doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2006.04.012

a

2006 by the American Dietetic Associat

hing that may not have been consid-red before. “The new guidelines andyramid are calling out portion size,o it will be helpful to have peopleearn about portions,” says Kimirchherr, MS, RD, corporate dieti-

ian for Jewel-Osco Midwest division.Even if these aren’t exact portionizes, it’s still better than buying aumbo bag!”

Some food andnutrition professionalssay that purchasingon-the-go sizes onsome level makesclients think about

portion control,something that may

not have beenconsidered before.

Unfortunately, consumers can oftenistake smaller sizes with healthful-ess. “Some people aren’t aware oran’t distinguish between calories andutrient density,” Grandgenett says.[If you look at] a package of raisins orlmonds, you’ll read the label and seehere are nutrients like calcium orber. You look at a little package ofookies or gum drops and you’ll prob-bly see very little except sugar or fat.he work of the dietitian is to makeure people read the nutrition factsanel and understand what it is say-ng.”

Kirchherr says one way to supportortion education and healthfulnesss to have clients utilize the new wavef portable, reusable containers avail-ble on the market. “Even if the prod-ct isn’t technically grab-and-go, withisposable containers you can makeour own grab-and-go,” she says.“It’s all about planning with a cap-

tal ‘P’. That way you can buy things

t the grocery store and put together

ion Journa

much better nutrition profile,”randgenett says. “It’s a grand oppor-

unity for people to put together theirwn snack pack—planning ahead ofime—and then you have much moreontrol over what it is you’re eating.”

eferences. Young L, Nestle M. Expanding

portion sizes in the US market-place: Implications for nutritioncounseling. J Am Diet Assoc. 2003;103:231-234.

. Campbell Soup Company Web site.Soup at Hand. Available at: http://www.campbellsoup.com/soup_at_hand.asp. Accessed May 2, 2005.

. Nabisco Web site. 100 CaloriePacks. Available at: http://www.nabisco.com/100caloriepacks/. Ac-cessed May 2, 2005.

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l of the AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION 793