Numerous studies indicate that sterols are safe and effective in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. However, it is recommended that you speak to your pediatrician about making changes to your child's diet.

Yes, CocoaVia® Snacks can be consumed as part of a healthy diet. Clinical studies have shown that individuals with normal circulating cholesterol levels can help maintain those healthy cholesterol levels by consuming plant sterols, thus creating a dietary strategy for maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. The cocoa flavanols in CocoaVia® may help maintain heart health and healthy blood flow.

CocoaVia® Brand Heart Healthy Snacks are available at an increasing number of retail stores. Use our handy Store Locator to find a store convenient to you that carries them. Because of their heart health benefits, CocoaVia® Brand Heart Healthy Snacks will most likely be found in the retailer's "Nutrition/Energy Bar" section. Or, if you prefer the convenience of buying online, you can place an order now.

All of the CocoaVia® Snacks Bars are 80 calories per serving. All of the CocoaVia® Chocolate Bars are 100 or fewer calories per serving. The CocoaVia® Chocolate Covered Almonds contain 140 calories per serving. Since each pre-portioned serving is packed with heart healthy flavanols and plant extracts, you can eat a relatively small portion and still reap the benefits. That means fewer calories compared to a regular, larger-sized chocolate bar.

If you are allergic or sensitive to certain foods or ingredients, you should always read the ingredient statement and any allergen statements to ensure the product does not contain ingredients of concern to you. Some CocoaVia® Snacks contain nuts and other allergens which are clearly indicated in either the ingredient listing on the label or just below it in an Allergy Information statement.

People with diabetes may have specific nutritional requirements, since they are at increased risk for heart disease, stroke and high cholesterol. It is best to speak with your physician about your cholesterol levels and how CocoaVia® products fit into an appropriate diabetic diet. Consuming plant sterols may be one way to help maintain cholesterol levels within the normal range, but blood sugar levels and body weight must be monitored and maintained.

CocoaVia® is the first snack of its kind to combine real heart health benefits with real chocolate pleasure. The health benefits come from a combination of natural cocoa flavanols and plant extracts called sterols. All CocoaVia® snacks are guaranteed to contain at least 100 mg of cocoa flavanols, natural ingredients which have been shown to enhance vessel and platelet function and may support heart health.

This product, like any food, should be consumed in moderation as part of an overall healthy diet. CocoaVia® Snacks can be enjoyed as a substitute for other foods that may not provide heart health benefits. Per serving, each CocoaVia® Snack contains 1.1–1.5 g sterol esters (0.7–0.9 g free sterols). Research demonstrates that consuming more than 3 grams of plant sterols (~5 g as sterol esters) per day provides little additional cholesterol lowering benefits.

The pre-portioned CocoaVia® Dark and Milk Chocolate bars range from 2 grams to 7 grams of fat per serving — which is less than most larger-sized chocolate bars. The Milk Chocolate Covered Raisins contain 6 grams of fat per serving. The Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds contain 11 grams of fat per package, but the majority of the fat comes from the almonds — which are rich in monounsaturated fat and are considered a "good" fat.

Each serving of CocoaVia® provides 1.1 to 1.5 grams of plant sterols. The FDA has said that 1.3 grams of plant sterols a day are needed to show a significant cholesterol-lowering effect if eaten at two different times a day with other foods and incorporated into a diet that's low in saturated fat and cholesterol.

You may have heard that a higher percentage of cocoa means that the product contains more heart healthy flavanols. When it comes to heart health and cocoa flavanols, the most important factor is whether the naturally occurring flavanols have been preserved or maintained in the final product. Seeing 30%, 50% or 70% cocoa on the label does not guarantee that it has higher levels of cocoa flavanols.

CocoaVia® contains 1 gram to 3.5 grams of saturated fat per serving. But it's important to remember that the saturated fat in cocoa butter is made up of approximately equal parts of stearic, oleic and palmitic acids. This combination doesn't act like a saturated fat, and research supports that the cocoa butter in chocolate does not raise blood cholesterol like other saturated fatty acids.

No, antioxidants are not the same as flavanols. Antioxidants are compounds which can slow or prevent the oxidation of other molecules. While flavanols have been shown to have some antioxidant-like effects, it is a true understatement to refer to them as solely antioxidants.

Try to focus on items that are high in protein and fat, such as a few cocktail-size meatballs, a couple of steamed prawns, a slice of turkey, roast beef or ham (perhaps wrapped around an asparagus spear), a hard-boiled egg or a small piece of cheese. Other good snacks during Induction include olives, celery sticks or other vegetables such as cucumber slices, radishes and peppers. If you are past the first two weeks of Induction, you can have a handful of nuts or seeds.

It is better for your teeth and general health if you eat 3 meals a day instead of having 7 to 10 snack attacks. If you do need to snack between meals, choose foods that do not contain sugar. Fruit does contain acids, which can erode your teeth. However, this is only damaging to your teeth if you eat an unusually large amount. If you do eat fruit as a snack, try to eat something alkaline such as cheese afterwards. Savoury snacks are better, such as:

Try blueberries or other fresh fruit with whole-milk cottage cheese or whipped cream. Serving fruit with a source of protein moderates blood-sugar swings. Or try a mix of nuts, seeds and raisins. Other good ideas include wholegrain bread or crackers with cheese or peanut butter; celery sticks with peanut or another nut butter; devilled eggs; rolled-up slices of turkey or ham. Instead of fizzy drinks, try flavoured waters or iced herbal teas.

Absolutely YES! The Zone is all about the hormonal responses to food. Think of food as a drug. Your body needs to process this "drug" in a particular way in order for you to attain your weight loss goals. Not being hungry is a great indicator that you are losing body fat and getting into "the Zone". Another important rule is to always eat breakfast within an hour of waking.

enrolled students, they are eligible to eat school meals and participate in the Free and Reduced Meals Program. However, because kindergarten children may not arrive at scheduled meal times, parents should contact the school's office for their policy in supervising kindergarteners during school meals.

We have several café tables, catering tables, as well as bar-height table for guests to eat on. These are on a first-come, first-serve basis and are not reserved.

The easy answer is: any way that suits you. However, we recommend that you mix the fruit and nuts. Open your Peeled Snack, take out the nut pack and peel it open. Pour the nuts (and, if you're eating Shock-olate, the chocolate) into the Peeled Snack bag. Shake the bag to mix up the fruit and nuts. Finally, enjoy your Peeled Snack!

We provide a snack in the morning session as well as the afternoon. Snack menus are posted at the center. The morning snack is not a meal substitute. It is only a snack.

Cheese! And anything else that follows the Somersize guidelines. There is a new line of dip mixes coming this weekend in the Pasta Feast...onion, salsa, sun-dried tomato and roasted pepper...you mix them with mayo and sour cream and then dip your vegetables in. Yum. Also, Decaf Coffee Granita from my Somersize Dessert book rocks! just started somersizing....got your first book....love it...

A good snack to eat in the evening before bed is one that is less than 200 calories. Cereals are usually healthy snacks, but it is recommended to read the nutrition labels before deciding to eat the whole box! Make sure to stay within a proper portion size, and choose a cereal that is low in calories and sugar. A high fiber cereal, yogurt, veggies with low-fat dip, a piece of fruit, oatmeal, and a portion controlled size of reduced fat cookies and skim milk are good choices.

Yes, healthful snacks can help control hunger and help maintain your energy level through the day. Occasional "fun" food treats are an option that you can add to your diet plan as well.

With out a doubt...You should most definitely eat all meals and snacks. Healthy dining is all about your hormonal responses to food. The balance will shift if you do not eat everything that's provided in your program. At annie's edibles, we calculate your daily nutritional requirements, so that you don't have to. So all we ask is for you to eat & enjoy!

Yes, but it depends on the type of foods you snack on in between meals and the total kilojoule intake for the day. Provita's or other similar sized low fat crackers with: Marmite / Bovril or other low fat spread or some thinly spread low fat or fat free cottage cheese with sweet chilli sauce When you start eating a healthy high fibre breakfast, such as a high fibre cereal with low fat milk or, whole grain toast with scrambled egg it kick starts your metabolism for the day.

Yes, we expect it! Your program is designed realistically and therefore allows you choice. The diet plan designed for you allows for normal foods that you eat daily. The dietitian's diet plan gives you the "right information" and realistically expects that you'll go out to eat at times. You make the choices but your plan guides you to make informed decisions so that you know what to eat every step of the way.