LUBBOCK, Texas — United Supermarkets is using an online game to help shoppers understand its new NuVal nutritional rating system.
The unitedtexas.com website includes a “What’s in Your Cookie Jar” game in which shoppers can choose which types of cookies have higher NuVal scores. Among the questions: Which has a higher NuVal score: Nabisco’s Peanut Butter Oreos or Keebler Chips Deluxe Peanut Butter?
The game follows an article about NuVal authored by United corporate dietitian Tyra Carter. She states that while cookie scores are obviously much lower than fruits and vegetables, when used occasionally as an addition to an overall healthful diet that is within the recommended caloric range, they can be a treat to look forward to at mealtimes or for snacks.
NuVal scores are calculated based upon beneficial nutrients per calories in a single serving. Higher scores identify products with less sugar, less salt and fewer unfavorable oils; they contain more fiber from whole grains as well as vitamins and minerals from fruits and nuts. Fiber has the greatest impact on increasing scores. Cookies typically have a score ranging from 1 to 40.
Examples of higher-scoring cookies include Murray Sugar Free Chocolate Bites (36), Nabisco Chocolate Teddy Grahams (25) and Nabisco Reduced Fat Oreos (22). Regular Nabisco Oreos score a 12.
United introduced NuVal last spring.
