BENTON HARBOR, Mich., July 7 With study after study suggesting our reliance on processed foods is a major factor in the nation's alarming obesity rate and other health challenges, what can home cooks do to reduce this reliance and still get food on the table quickly and conveniently? One answer may lie not in the pantry, but elsewhere in the kitchen cupboard.

  (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090324/DE87529LOGO-c )
  (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090324/DE87529LOGO-c )

"So many Americans own food processors, blenders and stand mixers they keep hidden away, and too few use them on an everyday basis to process foods the healthy way," notes Debbie O'Connor, senior manager of brand experience for KitchenAid. "It often takes just a few minutes more to assemble fresh ingredients and mix them versus opening a box of pre-mixed ingredients, yet the difference in quality and healthfulness can be enormous."

According to O'Connor, some of the fastest and easiest homemade alternatives to store bought foods include coleslaw made in a food processor with less mayonnaise, salsa made in a blender with less sodium, and a simple "quick bread" dough mixed in a stand mixer with no hydrogenated fats or preservatives.

Those interested in taking serious charge of what they eat can take things a step further. For example, the hard-working KitchenAid stand mixer, found in more than 10 million American homes, has been the preferred tool for generations of bakers unimpressed with packaged cake mixes. The mixer can even be outfitted with optional attachments for grinding grain, making homemade sausages and burgers (including reduced fat turkey and chicken varieties), and making pasta from whole grains.

"The secret is to leave these appliances on the countertop as a constant reminder to use them," says O'Connor. "They're practical, they come in great colors and finishes, and keeping them visible is the best way to ensure they get used."

For healthful recipes that use a blender (Spanish Tomato Gazpacho), food processor (Onion and White Bean Spread) and stand mixer (Whole Grain Wheat Bread), visit http://facebook.com/KitchenAid and click the "Discussions" tab.

Since the introduction of its legendary stand mixer in 1919 and first dishwasher in 1949, KitchenAid has built on the legacy of these icons to create a complete line of products designed for cooks. Over 90 years later, the KitchenAid brand now offers virtually every essential for the well-equipped kitchen with a collection that includes everything from countertop appliances to cookware, ranges to refrigerators, and whisks to wine cellars. To learn why chefs choose KitchenAid for their homes more than any other brand* visit http://kitchenaid.com/.

*Based on a September 2010 survey, KitchenAid was found to be the home kitchen appliance brand chosen most often by members of the International Association of Culinary Professionals and the American Culinary Federation when asked about refrigerators, ovens, cooktops, ranges, dishwashers, microwave ovens, electric mixers, blenders, food processors, kitchen gadgets and toasters.

NOTE TO PRESS: Please visit the KitchenAid online press room at http://kitchenaid.com/flash.cmd?/#/page/inside-kitchenaid-press-room/ to download high resolution product images and view the latest KitchenAid press releases.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090324/DE87529LOGO-c
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090324/DE87529LOGO-c
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

SOURCE: KitchenAid