This is a very special week. I'm fortunate to have TWO...count'em, two...interviews! One is with a marketing executive at Dannon, Michael Neuwirth, who kindly submitted to an interview on a BLOG...though he wasn't sure it was a good idea. We'll be talking about their newest product-line, which I had the good fortune to test (and taste!) a month ago. And, the other inteview is from -- well, stay tuned and you will see on Thursday --hint: it's a very special lady with a pink apple.
Yvonne: Why reformulate your yogurt? It was darn near perfect as is! (well, IMHO – in my humble opinion).
Michael: Thanks, we liked it a lot, too, but there's almost always room for improvement. We know that weight-conscious snackers are searching for great-tasting, reduced-calorie options and there aren’t many foods out there that deliver such great taste and nutrient value with only 60 calories. Dannon’s reformulated Light ’n Fit™ cups satisfy consumers who are looking for products that are both healthy and delicious.
Yvonne: We understand the new Light ‘n Fit is made with Splenda…can you give me some background on that? Is it like Saccharin…or Equal…??
Michael: Splenda is a popular sugar substitute that is made from sugar. It's a no calorie sweetener. [ummm...I knew that, Michael. I wanted to know...oh, never mind.]
Yvonne: I took a cruise around your new website which supports Light ‘n Fit and encourages readers to "Commit to be Light ‘n Fit"… and we like so much about it: the colors, the design, the navigation…even the image of a young woman stretching. BUT (you knew there would be a but, didn’t you?) where are the ladies over…a certain age? And don’t try to tell us the image represents ALL women. It doesn’t.
Michael: Thank you for the feedback and we will pass along the positive feedback to the folks who worked so hard to make it easy to navigate, engaging and informative. There are a lot of pictures we would have liked to include but we can't include everything. [one picture, Michael, that's all we ladies ask...one picture of a woman over 45!]
Yvonne: I'm especially interested in the supporting information on dairy products and dieting. What can you tell us about Dannon’s research into that?
Michael: We're actively involved along with a lot of other folks in to learn more about the role of low- and non-fat dairy in a healthy lifestyle. Research indicates that dairy foods, like our own Light 'n Fit® nonfat yogurt, have been shown to help people lose more weight when part of a reduced calorie diet than just cutting calories alone.
Here are some of the highlights of the research:
Calcium rich/low calorie diet produced greatest weight loss
Calcium rich/low calorie dieters lost the most belly fat
A recent study showed that people on a high dairy calcium reduced-calorie diet who consumed 3-4 servings of dairy each day lost significantly more weight and abdominal body fat than those people on a low calcium reduced calorie diet or a high calcium supplements reduced calorie diet. The mix of essential nutrients in dairy foods, including calcium and protein, along with calorie reduction, appears to speed up metabolism and improve the body’s ability to burn fat.
The best way to get the calcium you need is by eating and drinking foods that naturally contain calcium. Milk and many other dairy products like yogurt are good sources of calcium. On average, yogurt provides between 150 and 400 milligrams of calcium per 6 ounce container. Yogurt is also a way to get your dairy calcium if you are lactose intolerant.. Other sources of calcium include almonds, tofu, legumes and some green leafy vegetables. 
Yvonne: Tell our readers about Dannon’s partnership with Carolyn O’Neil…and Kathy Kaehler. How/why did you choose them to represent you?
Michael: Carolyn and Kathy advocate a healthy lifestyle approach that we believe is in line with what we stand for and clearly they're fans of Dannon, too. We strive to offer products and tools that help people make smart choices they can feel good about. Carolyn and Kathy both take a healthy, balanced approach to nutrition and exercise and we believe that's what Light 'n Fit consumers are looking for.
Yvonne: I especially LOVE the "Craving Cure" section of your new website. Whose good idea was that? We think she deserves a raise.
Michael: We are pleased that you enjoy that section. We worked closely with Carolyn O'Neil to develop creative ways to help consumers fight cravings with healthy alternatives. [so, did you give her a raise?]
Yvonne: I'd like to throw something off-topic at you; could you see this new program working in conjunction with Dove’s campaign for Real Beauty? In other words, will you continue to stress the issue that diet and exercise is more of a health-conscious decision than a weight-conscious one? Women are already so obsessed with their weight and with their looks…we don’t need reminders. Your program is off to a good start - by partnering with Dove, or showing a similar mindset - we think you will be doing women everywhere a big favor. Does that make sense?
Michael: We believe that the Light 'n Fit mindset means making choices everyday that you can feel good about. It's not about achieving a 'magic number' on the scale, but it is about feeling good in your clothes and achieving an overall sense of well-being.
We haven't actively looked into partnerships like the one you're suggesting but this is an interesting idea. The 'Real Beauty' campaign seems to be a real success for Dove because it seems to resonates so clearly with women. We think the "Commit to be Light 'n Fit" program, like the 'Real Beauty' campaign, is a step in the right direction to encourage more women to feel beautiful inside and out.
Yvonne: Will you be adding members to Team Light ‘n Fit? Someone who can help women adjust to their ‘new look’ perhaps? Maybe a blog to add value to the Q&A section of your site?
Michael: At this time we don't plan to but we'll see what the future brings. [readers...should Dannon have a blog? Shouldn't I help write it???]
Yvonne: Any plans to spotlight women as they use your program to lose weight? How about a Mother/Daughter spot?? A teen spot? Hey – how about a husband/wife spot??
Michael: Stay tuned in... [I can't stand the suspense!]
Yvonne: What message is Dannon trying to send by reformulating an already popular product? Light n’ Fit is all well and good, and we think it works…but, aren’t you a bit afraid some folks will see this as just another diet … to support the American idea of skinny women?
Michael: We don't have any plans to become a weight loss company - we're focused on making great-tasting fresh dairy products that satisfy continually evolving consumer demands. We know that weight-conscious snackers are searching for great-tasting, reduced-calorie options and there aren’t many foods out there that deliver such great taste and nutrients for only 60 calories. Calories count, but not many people are willing to give up great taste. That’s why Light ’n Fit is a terrific option.
Yvonne: If my readers have questions or comments, who should they write to, and where?
Michael: Just write to us or call us - we'd love to hear from you. Just fill out a "Feedback Form" or call us at 1-877-DANNONUS (1-877-326-6668), and don't forget to sign up to receive regular updates from us via DanMail.
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All I can say is: try it, you'll like it! And, write to Dannon and tell them they need a blog.
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