Get informed.  Get connected.  Get involved.  That’s the message on the “Healthier Kids, Brighter Futures” website.   There, families and individuals can learn how taking even small steps can make a big difference in their lives.  National, state and local leaders, as well as businesses and organizations, are encouraged to observe the month.

We at Sip & Savor are proud to be one of the organizations supporting the congressional resolution.  We salute the prime sponsors, Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. By putting the spotlight on the issue for a whole month, the supporters also hope to maximize the impact of programs, activities and messages about childhood obesity and how to develop healthier lives.  In fact, President Obama also has issued a National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month proclamation, urging all Americans to take actions to meet the goal of solving the childhood obesity problem within a generation.

America’s non-alcoholic beverage industry is also doing its part to help reduce childhood obesity. Under the national School Beverage Guidelines, our member companies have removed full-calorie soft drinks and replaced them with lower-calorie, nutritious and smaller-portion beverage options. As a result, beverage calories shipped to schools have been reduced by a dramatic 88 percent since 2004.  But, our member companies aren’t just stopping there – they’ve also come together with a Clear on Calories labeling initiative, committing to clearly display the calories in all of their beverages on the front of the can or bottle as well as on company-controlled vending machines and fountain equipment.  This means that within two years every time consumers touch one of our beverages they will have the calorie information at their fingertips at every point of purchase.

We  all need to be engaged to promote and practice healthy lifestyles and we congratulate parents for the hard work they do in helping teach children about the importance of balanced  nutrition and exercise.  And we encourage all Americans to learn more about the importance of balancing “calories in” with “calories out.”

Our member companies have delivered on a national commitment to change the beverage mix in schools.  By removing full-calorie soft drinks and replacing them with a variety of lower-calorie, nutritious and smaller-portion choices, our member companies have decreased beverage calories in schools by 88 percent since 2004!  We’re proud to say that this voluntary commitment is having a meaningful impact as parents across the country prepare to send their children back to school.

You may recall our television ad from earlier this year.  Also, if you have more questions about the School Beverage Guidelines, check out our Q & A section.

We wish all of the returning students good luck this school year!  And remember to check out the new beverage options on your campus!

One ingredient in the food supply that often finds itself in the news is caffeine, which is present in many soft drinks, ready-to-drink teas and energy drinks.  Despite some alleged concerns, caffeine has been proven safe for human consumption and has been a part of the human diet for more than 100 years.  We do recognize that some people are caffeine-sensitive, however.  That’s why many of our member companies also make a variety of non-caffeinated beverage options.

Another ingredient securing headlines now and again is low-calorie sweeteners. Whether to maintain weight, help manage diabetes or simply because you enjoy the taste, low-calorie sweeteners offer consumers yet another way to enjoy their favorite beverages.  As with caffeine, low-calorie sweeteners also have been tested extensively are are completely safe.  Numerous studies validate their safety, and they have obtained approval from regulatory agencies around the world, including the World Health Organization, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).  And in 2007, a literature review of the low-calorie sweetener aspartame by an expert panel including some of the world’s leading toxicologists also evaluated the ingredient’s safety at current levels of consumption and once again confirmed that it is safe.

And finally, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). This liquid sweetener is made from corn and is similar to sucrose – or table sugar – in composition.  In fact, both HFCS and sucrose are processed by the body in essentially the same way – both are broken down into the simple sugars glucose and fructose during digestion.

So it’s important to remember that beverage ingredients are safe.  After all, our industry is committed to its consumers – and our top priority is to ensure the quality and safety of our products through rigorous food safety procedures.

Please visit our Products Issue Site or Beverage Ingredient sections for more detailed information on what goes into our products.

A recent study out of Denmark looked at just over 59,000 Danish pregnant women, and alleges that their consumption of diet beverages increased risk of pre-term delivery.  Sounds really scary, doesn’t it?  Well, here are a few things you should know about this study:

• The authors even acknowledge that their study – which is observational in nature – DOES NOT and CANNOT show cause and effect.
• They also note that the alleged association between diet beverages and premature delivery was ‘primarily driven by medically induced delivery’ and that further research is needed.

And here are a few things to remember about low-calorie sweeteners:

• Low-calorie sweeteners are some of the most studied and reviewed ingredients in the food supply today and have passed rigorous safety assessments.
• The safety of low-calorie sweeteners, and diet beverages, is supported by the body of available science as well as regulatory agencies such as the European Food Safety Authority and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
• Their safety is also supported by leading health groups including the American Dietetic Association and American Diabetes Association.

But the best advice of all – if you’re pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant – is to seek out, consult with and heed the advice of your health care provider.  After all, the key to a healthy pregnancy is seeking good medical care and having a healthy lifestyle – before and during pregnancy.

As we all know, each January 1, millions of people around the globe make New Year’s Resolutions, often vowing to exercise more and eat healthier in an effort to drop those extra holiday pounds.  Unfortunately, by February 2 most have already fallen off the wagon.  So rather than conform to the mass appeal of a New Year’s Resolution, why not start on one now?  It’s almost like giving yourself a head start at working on a “new you.”

As you consider ways to enjoy the last days of the summer season, take advantage of a regular exercise routine by engaging in activities that are more accessible during the warmer months – like taking a bike ride, going for a hike or getting in a game of golf.  (Don’t forget to hydrate!)  It’s also easier to take advantage of the many delicious fruits that are in season, such as apricots, blackberries, plums, strawberries… and the list goes on!

So give yourself an early lead…and you just may find that a New Year’s Resolution simply isn’t needed.  After all, living a balanced, healthy and active lifestyle needs to be a year-round commitment.

We already have changed the beverage landscape in America’s schools by slashing beverage calories shipped to schools by 88 percent since 2004.  We have removed full-calorie soft drinks and replaced them with more lower-calorie, nutritious and smaller-portion beverage options. 

Our voluntary School Beverage Guidelines allow 100 percent juice, low-fat milk and bottled water in elementary and middle schools.  Diet beverages and calorie-capped sports drinks, flavored waters and teas are allowable additions for high schools.  These guidelines are having a meaningful impact on America’s school children.

So, as another school year begins, we are proud to be doing our part and we look forward to the next steps toward the child nutrition bill becoming law.

Some critics of the beverage industry argue that sugar-sweetened beverages are to blame for the obesity epidemic.  But, that doesn’t add up, because, as obesity rates have continued to rise, soft drinks sales have declined.  In fact, since 2000, soft drink sales have gone down nearly 12 percent largely due to industry’s innovations in no- and low-calorie beverage options.  And a Beverage Marketing Corporation analysis showed that the beverage industry has reduced the amount of calories it brings to market by 21 percent since 1998.  Industry innovation continues to bring more low-calorie, zero-calorie and smaller-portion beverages to market – and clearly consumers are availing themselves of those choices.

We at Sip & Savor agree that obesity is a very serious issue, and our member companies are committed to doing their part to help with a comprehensive solution.  The industry has already delivered on its commitment to change the beverage landscape in America’s schools by removing full-calorie soft drinks and providing more lower-calorie, nutritious, smaller-portion beverage options.  With the School Beverage Guidelines, our companies have slashed beverage calories shipped to schools by 88 percent since 2004.

In support of First Lady Michelle Obama’s ‘Let’s Move!’ anti-obesity campaign, America’s leading beverage companies have committed to clearly display the calories in all our beverages on the front of the can or bottle as well as on our vending and fountain machines. This means that within two years, every time consumers pick up one of our beverages they will have the calorie information at their fingertips.  These are efforts that will have lasting and meaningful impact.

The beverage industry takes its commitment to being part of the solution to childhood obesity very seriously.  The industry has already delivered on its commitment to change the beverage landscape in America’s schools by removing full-calorie soft drinks and providing more lower-calorie, nutritious, smaller portion beverage options.  With the School Beverage Guidelines, our companies have slashed beverage calories shipped to schools by 88 percent since 2004.   In support of First Lady Michelle Obama’s ‘Let’s Move!’ anti-obesity campaign, America’s leading beverage companies have committed to clearly display the calories in all our beverages on the front of the can or bottle as well as on our vending and fountain machines. This means that within two years, every time consumers pick up one of our beverages they will have the calorie information at their fingertips.  These are efforts that will have lasting and meaningful impact.

Ambinder writes that during World War II, a major concern (due to the struggles of the Great Depression) was ensuring that U.S. soldiers were provided with the nourishment they needed (and in many cases, previously lacked) to be successful. The buzzword nowadays is the reverse and it’s a big one: obesity.

First Lady Michelle Obama has taken the helm as she continues to speak on nutrition and health. Launching the Let’s Move! campaign is an example of promoting the awareness that Ambinder mentioned. While public discourse cannot solve the problem, it can create a forum that builds resources to mitigate the problem over time.

In support of the First Lady’s initiative, our companies voluntarily committed to put calorie information on the front of all their packaging, as well as company-controlled vending machines and fountain machines.  Beginning this fall, consumers will have calorie information available at their fingertips at every point of purchase.

The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) which has teamed up with the First Lady is also recruiting help to change the future of American kids. PE2020 is a program that asks what physical education will look like by the year 2020. The site offers a place where health care professionals, teachers and other community members can try to answer that question in a public forum.

Ambinder writes that the considerations for reducing obesity are greater than simply changing one’s diet. The availability and dissemination of nutritious foods and beverages has also changed, as has the scope of public health research.

Our member companies continue to promote a balanced lifestyle and remain committed to raising public awareness on many health issues. But like Ambinder, we also understand that the solution to the complex issue of obesity requires long-term, comprehensive solutions.

We’ve seen an amazing advancement in mobile phone technology and design over the past several years.  Seemingly pocket-sized computers, these tiny devices can do everything from checking the weather to purchasing movie tickets – oh, and they can make calls (from almost anywhere!), too.  One of these high-tech phones, the now-ubiquitous iPhone, has an entire virtual store associated with it, devoted to providing users with applications (apps) that help them with various tasks.  This article from Macworld caught our attention, as it outlines five apps that help you keep track of your workout routines and other things.

So, as the beautiful summer days pull you outside for a run, bike or simply an early evening walk, be sure that you are drinking enough fluids and staying hydrated.  And when you’re done, check in with us on Twitter and Facebook!