Does Having a Salad Help in Weight Management?

Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 01 Oct 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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As a weight management strategy, most nutrition experts agree that along with regular physical activity, people should keep tabs on their portion sizes to help them manage the number of calories they consume.

Researchers from The Pennsylvania State University examined whether eating a salad as a first course had any effect on intake of the main meal.

The results of the study of 42 women showed eating a large salad (3 cups), compared with not having a first course, reduced the women's meal energy intake by 12 percent. The researchers concluded: "Consuming a large portion of a low-energy-dense food at the start of a meal may be an effective strategy for weight management."

"In addition to calorie control, three cups of salad provide at least three servings of vegetables. Salads can help make it easy for people to reach the recommended goal of three to five servings of vegetables per day," says registered dietitian and ADA Spokesperson Lola O'Rourke.

Highlights of the October 2004 Journal of the American Dietetic Association

The Journal of the American Dietetic Association is the official research publication of the American Dietetic Association and is the premier peer-reviewed journal in the field of nutrition and dietetics.

With nearly 70,000 members, the American Dietetic Association is the nation's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. Based in Chicago, ADA serves the public by promoting optimal nutrition, health and well-being. Visit ADA at http://www.eatright.org.

Contact: Kelly Liebbe
media@eatright.org
American Dietetic Association

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