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Would you like some carrots to go with your Slurpee? Over the past year, 7-Eleven has begun stocking its shelves with yogurt parfaits, fruit cups, whole wheat deli sandwiches and fresh veggies as part of their “Fresh to Go” line, according to the New York Times. It’s a way of reaching out to new customers who usually avoid the forever-spinning fried taquitos.
As it turns out, peer pressure is a great thing when it comes to the popularity of healthy food. According to the Hudson Institute, companies that cash in on”better for you” products see higher profits and grow faster. In fact, these healthy foods are no longer the alternative: They make up nearly 39 percent of sales for the largest food and beverage companies, like Kellogg’s and General Mills. 7-Eleven, with 58 outposts inside Denver city limits alone, hopes its newest inventory will make up 20 percent of its sales by 2015.
But remember that a pre-packaged “better for you” product can be anything but. 7-Eleven’s Turkey and Swiss on Cracked Wheat Bread is a perfectly healthy lunch. The Grilled Chicken Caesar Wrap, however, comes with 28 grams of fat and a staggering 1400 mg of sodium. Choose wisely and always check the numbers.
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