The President's Choice(R) brand celebrates six great years of providing
better-for-you Blue Menu(R) options for the whole family

The 2010 Healthy Insider's Report(R) showcases more than 275 products, including more than 100 new and improved options and Must Try products

BRAMPTON, ON, Feb. 3 /CNW/ - Introduced in 2005, the 2010 President's Choice(R) Healthy Insider's Report(R) features more than 50 New PC(R) Blue Menu(R) products and continues to help Canadians make healthier food choices that feature better-for-you-benefits in many of Canada's favourite products.

As one of Canada's largest healthier brands, PC Blue Menu, now with more than 400 products in its line, offers options for any time of day, to feed yourself and your family with more delicious and nutritious choices than ever. And while President's Choice Blue Menu products may help tighten your waistline, they won't force you to tighten your budget.

PC Blue Menu products are developed by our dedicated product developers and adhere to our strict Blue Menu nutritional standards, with an in-house team of nutrition researchers, registered dietitians and nutritionists, which follow Health Canada's Guide to Healthy Eating. For a product to be part of the PC Blue Menu line, it must meet at least one of the following nutritional criteria: more omega-3s, more fibre, less calories, less fat, soy protein or less sodium - all important pillars of good nutrition.

As Canadians' taste grow and their nutritional needs become more sophisticated, the President's Choice brand continues to add additional nutritional options to the PC Blue Menu lineup as well. For example, this year's Insider's Report showcases a deeper commitment to healthier eating with an even more diversified line, offering more products with prebiotic inulin; more healthier dips and snack foods to help Canadians out with one of their most challenging times of day; a variety of nutrient-rich vegetarian offerings; and an expanded PC Organics(TM) line with wholesome ingredients for babies and children.

"We believe that small, simple steps are the best way to eat a little healthier and live well - even if you're on a budget," says Nadine Day , Registered Dietitian, PC Product Development, Loblaw Companies Limited. "Eating better doesn't have to be complicated or lacking in flavour. We've worked hard to ensure that PC Blue Menu products offer busy Canadians an ever-expanding range of convenient, versatile products. No one should have to sacrifice their favourite foods to live a healthier lifestyle."

Feeding Your Home Team(TM)

When it comes to leading a healthier lifestyle, food and fitness go hand-in-hand. That's why the President's Choice brand is proud to be the official nutritional partner of the Alpine Canada Ski Teams. In fact, some of the PC Blue Menu products were even tested with the athletes!

Whether you're an athlete-in-the-making or cooking for your team at home, PC Blue Menu helps Canadian families eat well and feel great with balanced and nourishing meals, snacks and beverages that are also convenient and delicious - without breaking the bank:

    
    -   It's in the bag - Eating on the go can quickly result in unhealthy
        choices and empty wallets. The Healthy Insider's Report features so
        many great PC Blue Menu lunch options that it makes the bagged lunch
        cool again! The grab-and-go Must Try! PC Blue Menu Chili - a high-
        fibre, nutritious feast-for-one - is the very definition of comfort
        and warmth this winter and is an ideal size for even the smallest
        lunch bags. Pair it with a low-fat muffin made from the New! PC Blue
        Menu Dark Chocolate Bran Muffin Mix for a killer combo that can fuel
        a busy afternoon of work or play
    -   Snack attack - For a delicious party-proof treat, pair New! PC Blue
        Menu Tortilla Chips, available in Sweet Potato, Vegetable & Flaxseed
        and Hemp & Sesame, with any of the delicious new PC Blue Menu Dips
        including New! PC Blue Menu Spicy Black Bean, New! PC Blue Menu White
        Bean & Roasted Garlic and Must Try! PC Blue Menu Spinach Dip, with 50
        per cent less fat than the original PC version, for guiltless
        noshing. Both the young and young-at-heart will also love the Must
        Try! PC Blue Menu Yogurt Smoothie Bars, a delicious frozen treat with
        real fruit purées and only 90 calories per bar
    -   Fast food (at home) - Spend less time in the kitchen and more time
        with the people you love by creating kind-of-from-scratch dinners
        like this easy-to-assemble Indian-inspired spread: Just combine some
        PC Blue Menu Air Chilled Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts with PC
        Blue Menu Indian Butter Chicken Cooking Sauce, with 60 per cent less
        fat than the regular PC version, and pair it with Must Try! PC Blue
        Menu Indian Naan Flatbread, which is a source of fibre. There are
        some foods that transcend age, so the New! PC Blue Menu Chicken
        Nuggets with 35 per cent less fat are an easy-to-serve protein for
        kid-friendly family meals. Just add veggies, such as the New! PC
        Vegetable Medley, on the side and serve
    -   Go meatless - "Increasing vegetable proteins should be a priority in
        any diet," says Day, who, along with many other nutritionists,
        champions a vegetarian meal at least once a week. Doing so is
        incredibly easy with delicious vegetarian dishes that include
        protein, such as new Must Try! PC Blue Menu Bulgur and Quinoa with
        Chickpeas, a colourful mélange of veggies with bulgur, whole grain
        red quinoa and chick peas in a delectable Moroccan-inspired sauce -
        versatile enough to be eaten as a meal or side dish. Soybeans are
        also a convenient way to introduce protein, omega-3s and various
        minerals into your diet. Simply add PC Blue Menu Soybeans into stews,
        soups or any other dish where you would add beans for a great
        nutrition boost
    -   Eat for tomorrow - Loblaw is launching exciting new President's
        Choice Blue Menu products in this year's Healthy Insider's Report
        that are certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)(1): Must
        Try! PC Blue Menu Wild Keta Salmon Cakes and New! PC Blue Menu
        Encrusted Wild Keta Salmon Fillets in two flavours - Lemon & Cracked
        Black Pepper and Tomato & Basil. These join Loblaw's existing
        selection of 13 MSC-certified seafood products. Read more about the
        importance of sustainable seafood on pages 20 and 21 of the Healthy
        Insider's Report
    

PC Healthy Eating Challenge

The PC Healthy Eating Challenge on pc.ca provides an interactive menu plan geared toward sustaining long-term, positive lifestyle changes. Logging on to pc.ca gives Canadians the tools they need for a four-week wellness makeover, complete with menu plans created by registered dietitians and health professionals. It also supplies grocery lists, recipes and tips to help kick-start healthier habits, such as incorporating more fruits and vegetables into diets. Learn tips from Canadians, who have been successful in the challenge. The best part is that the PC Healthy Eating Challenge is absolutely free and light on your wallet.

"Current childhood obesity rates have tripled in the last 25 years; but the example starts at home with parents and grandparents," says Day. "We create positive messages about healthier eating and exercise when we choose healthier foods and ingredients, learn to read nutrition labels and when we commit to eating meals with our kids. The PC Healthy Eating Challenge is a great first step when just getting started seems overwhelming."

When customers visit the Healthy Eating Challenge area on pc.ca, they'll find numerous education and support tools to inspire interest in foods that can help improve and maintain health and vitality.

Pick up a copy of the 2010 Healthy Insider's Report available in stores all across the country, or check it out online at pc.ca.

President's Choice products are available at Loblaws, Zehrs, Zehrs Great Food, Fortinos, Loblaw Superstore, Real Canadian Superstore, Atlantic Superstore, SaveEasy, Freshmart, Maxi, Maxi & Cie, No Frills, Provigo, Extra Foods and more. Product pricing and availability may vary by banner and region. For more information, visit www.pc.ca.

About Loblaw Companies Limited

Loblaw Companies Limited, a subsidiary of George Weston Limited, is Canada's largest food distributor and a leading provider of drugstore, general merchandise and financial products and services. Loblaw is one of the largest private sector employers in Canada . With more than 1,000 corporate and franchised stores from coast to coast, Loblaw and its franchisees employ over 139,000 full-time and part-time employees. Through its portfolio of store formats, Loblaw is committed to providing Canadians with a wide, growing and successful range of products and services to meet the everyday household demands of Canadian consumers. Loblaw is known for the quality, innovation and value of its food offering. It offers Canada's strongest control (private) label program, including the unique President's Choice(R), no name(R) and Joe Fresh Style(R) brands. In addition, the Company makes available to consumers President's Choice Financial(R) services and offers the PC(R) points loyalty program.

Product samples and high-resolution images are available upon request.

    
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    (1) The MSC is an independent, international non-profit organization that
        has set a global standard for the certification of fisheries with
        environmentally responsible, sustainable fishing methods.
    

For further information: or to arrange an interview with Nadine Day or another spokesperson, please contact: David Primorac, Loblaw Companies Ltd., [phone] ext. 613634, [email protected]; Andrea Craig, Hill & Knowlton Canada, [phone], [email protected]; Miguel Pacheco, Hill & Knowlton Canada, [phone], [email protected]