Nearly all the doctors (97%) in the survey of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) membership felt it was at least somewhat if not mostly their responsibility to provide dietary and nutritional counseling to patients. Yet, only two out of ten doctors felt very informed counseling patients. The majority believed they were only somewhat informed.

At a time when research shows diet can impact American health issues, 96% of doctors surveyed indicated an interest in learning more about nutrition to advise their patients. Recognizing that doctors want to provide accurate counsel to their patients, Delia Hammock, MS, RD, nutrition director, Good Housekeeping Research Institute, said, "With the increase of diseases such as diabetes and obesity, it's important for doctors to be confident in making dietary recommendations because something as simple as changing a snack pattern can make a big difference in overall health."

The California Table Grape Commission is providing physicians with nutrition information about healthy snacks such as fresh grapes from California. While grapes appear on the surface as just a sweet treat, they make a smart snack food choice, providing abundant phytonutrients including resveratrol, the same substance found in red wine that may protect the heart.

"When substituting sweet, juicy fresh California grapes instead some salty or sugary snacks, you'll enjoy a sweet tooth fix while saving about 200 calories. This means you can lose up to 10-lbs. in six months just by taking this simple step," said Ms. Hammock. At just 90 calories per 3/4 cup serving, their moderate glycemic food index value makes grapes a part of most lifestyle diets.

The California Table Grape Commission was created by the California legislature in 1967 to increase demand for fresh California grapes through a variety of research, education and issue management programs.