Tag Archives: weight watcher

Permalink to Product Copy Watch: 3 Ways Nutella Restructured Their Ad Copy After Legal Action

Product Copy Watch: 3 Ways Nutella Restructured Their Ad Copy After Legal Action

by Angie Sanders|on August 27, 2012 |in Content marketing, Just good business |tagged , , , , |6 Comments

Nutella is no longer on my shopping list.

Why?

Not because I ever thought it was nutritious and was swayed by recent legal action, but because it’s addictive. At least to me it is. Give me a box of graham crackers and some hazelnut spread and this girl is set. And I’m still thinking about the Nutella cookie recipe I tried. Talk about decadence. Man! (Now why did I have to see the photo of these cookies? I might have to make a grocery store run.)

You might remember my June blog post about the California mom who sued Ferrero—the makers of Nutella—over false advertising claims that the spread is “nutritious” and constitutes a “healthy breakfast.” After the company settled this suit, I noticed a Nutella ad on the back cover of the September 2012 issue of Parenting magazine.

I compared this ad to the past television commercial and noticed three changes in the way the advertising copy promotes the product:

Less emphasis on the nutritional value of Nutella—The television commercial says that Nutella is made with “simple quality ingredients,” which to the untrained ear suggests that Nutella is somehow nutritious. The print ad plainly states that, “Each jar contains hazelnuts, skim milk and a hint of cocoa,” making no claims about the nutritional value.

Use of the word “balanced”— The phrase, “…turn a balanced breakfast into a tasty one, too” suggests that Nutella customers use the product to enhance an already nutritious breakfast.

Focus on making a good breakfast even better— The commercial emphasizes using Nutella to get kids to eat breakfast—because a slathering of something sweet definitely helps the cause. The Parenting magazine ad makes this case even clearer.

Share with us: Examine the ads for the products you consume. Do you notice any words or phrases that have you asking, “What exactly do they mean by that?” Do they make any claims that upon second glance seem far-reaching?

Permalink to Ban McDonald’s at 2012 London Olympics or Make Smart Choices?

Ban McDonald’s at 2012 London Olympics or Make Smart Choices?

by Angie Sanders|on July 25, 2012 |in What's on TV |tagged , , |1 Comment

The sole choice for food all day every day at the 2012 London Olympics is McDonald’s. Or is it?

CNN OutFront host Erin Burnett {@ErinBurnett} reported that McDonald’s is building its largest restaurant in the world in Olympic Park and that it will be the only branded food available in the park during the games. Burnett pointed out the irony of the situation, and McDonald’s responded that they were “surprised and disappointed by her comments.”

The chain referred to the “choice and variety on our menu, with items like grilled chicken, yogurt, oatmeal, fruit salad, smoothies and wraps. And of course, we’re proud of our iconic burgers.”

The perceived lack of options this situation presents struck a chord with Burnett. On July 6, she provided viewers with a sample menu—food items and calories—Olympic attendees may consume on a typical day:

BREAKFAST
Oatmeal 290
Iced coffee 140
Orange juice 280
Meal calorie total: 710

LUNCH
Salad 110
Chicken wrap 250
Smoothie 220
Meal calorie total: 580

DINNER
Big Mac 550
Fries 380
Coke 210
Milkshake 510
Meal calorie total: 1,710

Burnett pointed out that this menu yields 3,000 calories—76% more than the USDA requires per day for women. These 3,000 calories include 79 teaspoons of sugar, six tablespoons of shortening, and 10.4 packets of salt. Because of stats like these, and McDonald’s overall reputation for not being the healthiest of fast food choices, Jenny Jones, a London Assembly Member, appeared on the show via phone to publicly call for a ban on McDonald’s at this year’s games.

While I’m not a huge McDonald’s fan myself, I agree with Reason Magazine Editor Katherine Mangu-Ward who also appeared to debate Jones on the restaurant ban. As an Olympic attendee or reporter, having only one branded restaurant available does indeed suck. However, you still have choices, starting with the McDonald’s menu.

Let’s take a look at Burnett’s proposed meal plan. If I were making health-conscious decisions, I’d start with what I drink. I’d avoid the coffee and orange juice for breakfast (saving 420 calories), the smoothie at lunch (saving 220 calories) and the Coke and milkshake at dinner (saving 720 calories) and drink water instead. With the spare 1,360 calories, I’d probably add some foods like an egg mcmuffin (300 calories) at breakfast and an apple pie (250 calories) at lunch. Granted I upped my fat content with those additional items. But if I was worried about that, then I’d skip the fries at dinner.

Most importantly, who’s going to eat Burnett’s proposed menu—or mine—each day during their stay? Perhaps I’d splurge one or two days on the Big Mac meal. The rest of the days I’d make healthier choices.

But knowing me, I’d make a grocery store run when I get to town to stock up on food that can survive in my purse or a lunch bag all day in Olympic Park.

What do you think? Is a ban on McDonald’s at the 2012 Olympics warranted?

Permalink to What a Weight Watcher Can Teach You About Blogging

What a Weight Watcher Can Teach You About Blogging

by Angie Sanders|on May 2, 2012 |in Content marketing |tagged , , , , , , , , |2 Comments

Five months before my 31st birthday in 2010, I launched operation 30 x 31, a personal mission to lose 30 pounds by my 31st birthday.  I’d read that I should tell everyone about my decision to keep me accountable, but I work best when I keep my plans closely guarded. If I fail, no one is the wiser. If I succeed, everyone is caught off guard by my triumph.

I gave up what I referred to as FCS—fries, chips, and soda. (I actually chanted in my head: “NO fries! NO chips! NO soda!) I tracked my eating online with Weight Watchers. And I worked out no less than three times a week. I’d also read that it takes 21 days to start a habit. Once I’d gotten through one month of my mission, I figured I was home free.

By the time I turned 31, I’d lost 25 pounds. I eventually hit my goal of 30 pounds a month or so later.

I was reminded of this goal a few weeks ago while talking with a woman I met at the April Executive Women’s Roundtable luncheon in Tysons Corner. She explained to me that her colleagues saw a need to start a company blog, but no one had the time to devote to it. Blogging, like weight loss, has also been a lingering mission taunting me to accept its challenge.  Once I saw the parallels between both goals, I was able to apply the same nuggets that helped me lose weight to maintaining a blog.

Determine a blogging frequency that’s reasonable for you.
One reason why resolutions to lose weight fail is unrealistic goal setting. Don’t say, “I’m going to hit the gym every day this year.” Because you won’t. And when you don’t, you’ll feel bad for not hitting that goal—a goal you were destined not to reach.  When I started working out, I told myself that if I could get in the gym twice a week, then I’d be winning. I began there and eventually added one or two more days. You’ll catch the “experts” saying you should blog every day, but you should start with a weekly goal that’s reasonable for you. With my blog, I set the same goal that I set for my exercise.  If I post twice a week, then I’m winning.

Be consistent.
With any goal, only a few stand by to cheer you on. But a whole heap of folks wait patiently for you to fall off.  If you tell yourself you’ll post to your blog twice a week, try to post on the same days each week. Once you get into your rhythm and you have readers checking for your posts on those days, you won’t be the only one noticing that you’re winning!

Keep your blog in the forefront of your mind. Always.
Just like I chant to myself, “NO fries! NO chips! NO soda!”, I’m constantly thinking about my blog while reading anything online, while watching TV, and while in conversation. Blog topics pop up in everyday life. You just have to recognize them and assess their value.

Plan blog posts ahead of time.
A physician friend recommended James Orvis’s Weight Training Workouts that Work instead hiring a personal trainer to encourage me to pick up a dumbbell. I’ve worked through volume one twice and am starting volume two.  If I work out four times a week, then I’ll focus on cardio two days and weight lifting the other two. Plan your blog posts the same way. When ideas pop in your head, jot them down.  Write 10 or more blog posts even before you launch. This head start will buy you time to think of and write 10 more posts.  You want to prevent that weekly “What will I write about?” internal struggle.

Keep yourself accountable.
Now that I’ve gotten accustomed to exercising throughout the week, I beat myself up a little when I don’t. You want to have this same feeling about blogging. Remember, there is a hater(s) waiting to take pleasure in your flaky blogging. Don’t give her the satisfaction.

Reward yourself.
Weight Watchers is designed to give me a cheat day once a week if I choose to use it. And if I work my points just right, then I get little cheats throughout the week. You should reward yourself, too! What will you allow yourself to do or have if you put in a whole month’s worth of consistent blogging?