Van's Waffles

Almost forty years ago, Pilue Van Dam debuted her famous Belgian waffles at America’s New York World’s Fair. Today, Pilue’s namesake company - Van’s International (www.vanswaffles.com) – is the country’s leading all-natural frozen waffle brand with a wide range of tasty and healthy products, including the company’s new heart-healthy line: Hearty Oats.

More than seventy million Americans have one or more types of cardiovascular (heart) disease (CVD), according to the American Heart Association. Among adults age 18 and older, the prevalence of two or more risk factors for CVD increased from 23.6 percent in 1991 to 27.9 percent in 1999. Moreover, these risk factors increased significantly for both men and women of all racial, ethnic, age and education groups. Among those with three risk factors, the most common combination was high cholesterol and obesity.

Van’s ambitious new Hearty Oats product line was specifically created in response to the increasing prevalence and awareness of this widespread health concern. In addition to having the antioxidant power of one whole pomegranate, Van’s Hearty Oats products are free of cholesterol and an excellent source of whole grains and calcium. They also have five grams of fiber and protein.

Van’s Hearty Oats Waffles come in three appealing flavors: Maple Fusion (the first “grab-n-go” syrup-infused waffle sold in supermarkets and in other food and health stores), Oats N’ Honey and Berry Boost. Each of these waffles also received an Excellent Source of Whole Grains stamp from the Whole Grains Council, which assures that the waffles contains a full serving of whole grain in each labeled serving.

Van’s Hearty Oats Waffles are available in most natural food stores, including Whole Foods and Wild Oats, as well as in mainstream supermarkets nationwide, retailing for $2.49 per box.

“Van’s has an established tradition of both anticipating and meeting our customers’ needs,” says Chuck Marcy, CEO of Van’s International Foods. “Our consumers have come to rely on us for delivering the best- tasting and healthiest waffles available, and with the tremendous demand for heart healthy foods, we anticipate our new line will prove one of the most successful in Van’s history.”

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For the over three million Americans affected with Celiac Disease, Van's International Waffles offers a highly popular line of wheat-free waffles. These wheat-free waffles are also free of yeast, dairy, and eggs and are enriched with calcium. Available in original, blueberry, flax, apple cinnamon, and a mini size appealing to kids.

Recent research and newly developed blood screening methodologies have revealed that one in every 33 otherwise-healthy individuals suffer from this condition, according to the American Medical Association 2003. It is therefore no wonder that sales of wheat-free items as a whole are up in natural product supermarkets, with three of the top-five best-selling waffle items being wheat-free lines.

Van's has joined forces with the Center for Celiac Research and strives to generate funds for celiac research and increase awareness of celiac disease with “Making Tracks for Celiacs” bracelets, available for $2.00 at http://www.celiaccenter.org/bracelet.asp.

“People are beginning to realize that there’s a very large population of people who suffer from Celiac disease,” said Pam King, Director of Operations. “It’s great when a company steps up to the plate and wants to help research for such a worthy cause. We hope to continue working with Van’s in the years to come.”

“Van’s has a long tradition of offering consumers products that are as nutritious as they are delicious,” Chuck Marcy, CEO of Van’s International. “Responding to our customers and a general trend within the industry, we’ve gone to every possible length to ensure that our line of Wheat-Free Waffles are the healthiest and tastiest on the market today.”

Van’s Wheat-Free Waffles are available in most natural food stores, including Whole Foods and Wild Oats, as well as in mainstream supermarkets nationwide, retailing for $2.56 to $2.74 a box.

For more information about Van’s complete line of products, their nutritional content and ingredients, along with Van’s historical origins, please visit www.vanswaffles.com.

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While consumers have become increasingly aware of the benefits of fruits and vegetables, very few are aware of the invaluable health benefits of whole grains and how appealing these essential nutrients are when offered in such popular products as waffles and other everyday foods.
Whole grains are often an even better source of key nutrients, disease-fighting phytochemicals and antioxidants than many fruits and vegetables, and contain some antioxidants that cannot be found in produce. In addition, whole grains contain B vitamins, vitamin E, magnesium, iron and fiber; and medical evidence continues to show that whole grains can reduce risks of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and obesity. Quite simply, few foods offer such diverse benefits.
While the new 2005 Dietary Guidelines recognize the fundamental role whole grains play in the foundation of a healthy diet, whole grains currently make up only about 10 percent of grains on supermarket shelves and are often extremely challenging for consumers to find. Indeed, the average American eats less than one daily serving of whole grains and over 30% of Americans never eat whole grains at all!

Fortunately, however, as health professionals continue to urge the consumption of whole grains, suggesting at least three servings per day, the demand for easily accessible products rich in whole grains is becoming increasingly prevalent.

In response to this demand, Van’s International Waffles, whose products are readily available in major supermarkets as well as leading health food stores nationwide, has risen to the occasion by providing consumers the means to start their day with the whole grains they need. Over 10 of their waffle varieties have received the Excellent Source stamp from the Whole Grains Council, which assures that the food in question contains a full serving of whole grain in each labeled serving.

With these stamps, the Whole Grains Council (WGC) is hoping to close the whole grain gap, the difference between Americans who now eat one serving of whole grains per day and the goal set by government and private sector nutrition experts recommending three servings a day.

“It’s a simple truth,” said K. Dunn Gifford, Secretary Treasurer, WGC, “that the whole grains gap can be closed only if the food industry makes good-tasting whole grain foods that consumers buy and then buy again and again because they are not only wholesome, but taste good too.”

The following Van’s Waffles received the Excellent Source Stamp from the WGC: Organic Original, Organic Blueberry, Organic Soy Flax, Gourmet Multigrain, Gourmet 97% Fat Free, Gourmet Flax, Belgian Seven Grain, Wheat Free Original, Wheat Free Blueberry, Wheat Free Cinnamon Apple, Wheat Free Flax, Wheat Free Mini, and Gourmet Buckwheat Waffle.

“We have always been determined to meet our customers’ needs, not only in terms of taste, but in terms of overall health,” says Chuck Marcy, President of Van’s International Foods. “We spent a great deal of time developing the recipes for our waffles, and they meet the Van’s standard of excellence on every level.”

NOTE: I've tried the mini-waffles and found them to be quite good!