Wimpy

NUTRITION frequently asked questions

For Nutritional Analysis of Our Menu Items, Please go to the Menu Section

If you have any questions on nutrition, relating to the food served at Wimpy, please see our Frequently Asked Questions below.

Jump straight to your topic of interest, or browse through all the questions - your query may be answered below. Topics include:

The Toddler

My toddler is a picky eater, what nutritional suggestions can you make when we eat out as a family at Wimpy?

Offer Wimpy foods that especially cater for kid-size tummies and tastes. To establish enjoyment of good eating, Wimpy offers a wide variety of foods and a kid’s menu!

Also, to broaden your children’s tastes, let them watch you enjoying many different foods. Children are far more likely to decide they like foods when parents or caregivers show enthusiasm for those foods. In one study, if caregivers simply ate foods without comment, the positive impact was much less than when they enthusiastically consumed the foods.

To further reduce the chance of picky eating, don’t let mealtimes become a power struggle. Behaviour scientists see control issues promoting picky eating at least, in some children. Let there be a division of responsibility: parents and caregivers should decide what foods are offered and when. Kids should have sole responsibility for deciding how much to eat. This teaches them to use internal hunger signals to eat only what they need – something many adults raised in the “clean your plate” style find difficult.

The Child

Q:	My son loves fruit juice, but he has asthma and the sulphites found in most fruit juices make it worse, can he drink Wimpy fruit juice?
A:	Absolutely, your son can drink all fruit juices purchased at Wimpy. Wimpy fruit juices contain no added preservatives.

Food Allergies

Q:	My child is allergic to all cow's milk protein, what foods should a 'steer clear of' and what foods get 'the green light' on the Wimpy menu?
A:	Steer clear of:
	dairy products, such as milk, cream, ice cream, cheese, yoghurt any added cheese, mushroom sauce, milkshakes, soda floats and milk drinks or cream toppings.
	Green light:
	when opting for sauces go for the tomato or tomato relish drinks: rather opt for a fruit juice or a soda

Q:	My child is allergic to egg and egg containing products. Are there any foods she can eat at Wimpy, will the staff be able to help me?
A:	Wimpy has listened to your concerns and we are glad to bring you a nutritional booklet that is available at your local Wimpy. It indicates which Wimpy menu items are egg free. Please ask you local Wimpy for our Nutritional Analysis brochure, to assist you in your choice. Alternatively visit www.wimpy.co.za for the egg free list.

ADHD

Q:	My 6-year-old child has ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and I have been told to increase his dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids what choices can I make at Wimpy?
A:	Fatty fish, such as tuna, salmon and, pilchards are excellent sources of omega-3. Omega 3 is also found in meat, so beef (100% PURE BEEF logo) is also a good option to help increase your child’s intake of omega 3.

Q:	My 6-year-old child has ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and I have been told to increase his dietary intake of vitamin B what choices can I make at Wimpy?
A:	Excellent food sources rich in vitamin B include: cereals, bread, potatoes, all milk products, eggs, meat, fish and vegetables. Choose menu items that contain these foods.

Q:	Children in my child’s class have ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) can I bring them to Wimpy?
A:	Yes! Many parents want meals free of added sugar, or free of added MSG and tartrazine free, so Wimpy have made this information available to you. Please ask your local Wimpy for our Nutritional Analysis brochure, to assist you in your choice. Alternatively visit www.wimpy.co.za for the list of Menu Items that are available, this will help you to safely make choices from the Wimpy menu.

The Teenager

Q:	My teenage daughter loves Wimpy food, but she has been diagnosed with an iron deficiency, which foods are good sources of iron?
A:	Good sources of iron include lean meats, eggs, and dark green leafy vegetables. Spot the 100% PURE BEEF logo on the Wimpy menu or opt for a chicken kebab. If you and your daughter are having a Wimpy breakfast try some egg and add a Wimpy juice or some tomato to help enhance the absorption of the iron found in the egg.

Q:	My teenage son eats Wimpy food every other day, he is also a keen sportsman, and can you make any suggestions regarding his preferred choices?
A:	Your son has increased nutritional requirements, not only for growth but also due to his increased activity levels as a sportsman. Can I suggest that your son consult a dietitian to ensure that his nutritional intake is adequate and balanced (this will also help optimise his sporting performance). Wimpy recommendations would include foods that contain both carbohydrates for energy, protein for growth and muscle development and are filled with essential vitamins and minerals. Excellent sources of carbohydrates available at Wimpy include: cereals, breads, muffins and potatoes. Salads should be daily options which are nutrient dense and rich in essential vitamins and minerals. Excellent protein options include: meat, fish, chicken, eggs, milk, cheese, nuts and pulses. Wimpy has a nutritional analysis of our menu items available at your local Wimpy store; just ask for the Nutritional Analysis brochure. Wimpy has also brought out an example meal plan that can be used as a guide when carbo-loading.

The Adult

Q:	My husband suffers from high cholesterol, what guidelines can you give to enable us to make better food choices when eating out?
A:	Fatty meats and full dairy products such as butter and cream are high in saturated fats, which raise the blood cholesterol levels control your portion size, share a meal with your husband or take ‘a doggy bag’ home make lean meat choices and ask for grilled (any dry heat method) Remove any visible fat from meat or the skin from chicken limit/avoid sauces (ask Wimpy for sauces on the side so that you an control the quantity you eat) ask for tomato based sauces instead of creamy sauces

Q:	Our family does not eat pork, can we eat at Wimpy?
A:	Yes! Wimpy burgers contain no pork. Please see the 100% PURE BEEF Logo on Wimpy menus.

Food Intolerances

Q:	What is a food allergy?
A:	An allergic reaction to a food is an inappropriate reaction by the body's immune system to the ingestion of a food that in the majority of individuals causes no adverse effects. Eggs, peanuts, milk, or some other specific food can trigger it. Food allergy is relatively rare, affecting an estimated 1-2% of children and less than 1% of adults (typically 0.2-0.5%), and is often wrongly used as a general term for adverse reactions to food. An actual food allergy, as opposed to simple intolerance due to the lack of digesting enzymes, is indicated by the production of antibodies to the food allergen, and by the release of histamines and other chemicals into the blood. Wimpy is glad to bring you our Nutritional Analysis brochure that is available at your local Wimpy. It indicates which Wimpy menu items are free from egg and soya.

Q:	What is a food intolerance?
A:	Food intolerance is much more common than food allergy, and is the less serious of the two conditions. Food intolerance is an exaggerated or abnormal physical reaction to a food or food additive (such as an artificial colourings or preservatives) that does not involve an immune reaction. A chemical deficiency in the body is usually the cause of the problem. It has nothing to do with food allergy because the reaction does not involve the body's immune system. Wimpy is glad to bring you a Nutritional Analysis brochure that is available at your local Wimpy. It indicates which Wimpy menu items that are free of lactose and gluten, as well as added MSG and tartrazine.

Q:	I have a lactose intolerance, what options do have regarding drinks at Wimpy?
A:	Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest lactose, a type of sugar found in milk and other dairy products. It is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme lactase, which leads to an inability to digest lactose, the sugar in milk quite common among certain ethnic groups in South Africa. People with a lactose intolerance could quite safely consume any Wimpy drinks without milk or other milk products, such as ice cream. For example: fruit juices, fizzy drinks, tea & coffee (with no added milk) or mineral water. For those patrons who suffer from a lactose intolerance, Wimpy has made a list available indicating which foods are lactose free. Please ask your local wimpy for a copy of the Nutritional Analysis brochure or visit www.wimpy.co.za for a list of menu items.

Q:	I have a gluten intolerance and find it so hard to make choices when we eat out, what can you recommend from the Wimpy menu?
A:	Gluten is a ‘sticky ‘ protein found in many grains. Those that cause irritation to people with gluten intolerance (also known as coeliac disease) are such as wheat, rye, barley and perhaps oats. Gluten is found in wheat, barley, and rye, which means that many dietary staples such as bread, many breakfast cereals and foods, such as pizza and pasta, can no longer be eaten. Oats were thought to trigger reactions, though this is looking less and less likely. As this is not an uncommon problem, Wimpy has made a list available indicating which foods are gluten free. Please ask your local wimpy for a copy of the Nutritional Analysis brochure or visit www.wimpy.co.za for a list of menu items.

Q:	What is MSG (monosodium glutamate)?
A:	A flavour enhancer. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), according to The World Book Encyclopedia, is a white, salt-like crystalline substance, which has little if any flavour of its own, yet dramatically improves the taste of foods that it has been added to (McWilliams, 1985, p. 611). This ability to heighten taste has made it known and used in most all regions of the world. Asians originally used a seaweed broth to obtain the flavour-enhancing effects of MSG, but today a fermenting process using starch, sugar beets, sugar cane, or molasses makes MSG. Glutamate itself is in many living things: It is found naturally in our bodies and in protein-containing foods, such as cheese, milk, meat, peas, and mushrooms. Some glutamate is in foods in a "free" form. It is only in this free form that glutamate can enhance a food's flavour. Part of the flavour-enhancing effect of tomatoes, certain cheeses, and fermented or hydrolysed protein products (such as soy sauce) are due to the presence of free glutamate. Monosodium glutamate is the sodium salt of glutamic acid. Glutamate is a naturally occurring amino acid that is found in nearly all foods, especially high protein foods such as dairy products, meat and fish and in many vegetables. Foods often used for their flavouring properties, such as mushrooms and tomatoes, have high levels of naturally occurring glutamate. The human body also produces glutamate and it plays an essential role in normal body functioning.

Q:	Should I be concerned about consuming foods containing ‘added MSG’?
A:	The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) believes that MSG is a safe food ingredient for the general population. It is regarded by the agency as among food ingredients that are "generally recognised as safe." FDA has studied adverse reaction reports and other data concerning MSG's safety. One group is those who may be intolerant to MSG when eaten in a large quantity are those people with severe, poorly controlled asthma. These people, in addition to being prone to MSG symptom complex, may suffer temporary worsening of asthmatic symptoms after consuming MSG. For those patrons who are concerned, Wimpy has made a list available indicating which foods are free of added MSG. Please ask your local wimpy for a copy of the Nutritional Analysis brochure or visit www.wimpy.co.za for a list of menu items.

Q:	Do any of the Wimpy foods have MSG added to them? If so, please indicate which foods.
A:	NO! No foods at Wimpy have any added MSG.

The Athlete

Q:	I am carbo-loading for my race on Saturday, is there anything I can eat at Wimpy?
A:	Glycogen is the all-important stuff that your muscles burn to make energy. If your body has enough glycogen and oxygen (and water!) it can go for a long time. Complex carbohydrates are more efficiently converted into glycogen than any other food. This is why endurance athletes "carboload" – so that when they go out for a ride (or to run a marathon), their muscles are holding as much glycogen as they can. Carboloading entails taking more carbohydrate rich sources of foods. Excellent food choices include: cereals, breads, muffins, potatoes and pasta. Wimpy has also brought out an example meal plan that can be used as a guide when carbo-loading.

Q:	I am a body builder and need to increase my protein intake, what options does Wimpy have available?
A:	Excellent food sources that are rich in good quality protein include meat, fish, chicken, eggs, milk, cheese, nuts and pulses. Small quantities of protein are also found in potatoes and cereals.

Counting Calories

Q:	The family love going to Wimpy, but I am on a strict weight loss diet, what can I eat - please help!
A:	Wimpy is pleased to inform you that nutritional tables are available for all Wimpy foods, check the Wimpy website. Tips & Hints Dilute your calorie intake by adding a salad and ask for salad dressing ‘on the side’ so that you can control the amount you add to your salad Remember do not hesitate to ask for a ‘doggie bag’ eat half and take the other half home.

Q:	I am cutting down on my intake of too much fat, what suggestions can you make when I eat at Wimpy?
A:	Well done! Remember to check portion sizes, if you want to reduce your intake of fat. Remember that the size of your meal is important. The choice regarding the type of foods you choose, if you are wanting to cut down on your fat intake, is just as important, here are a few suggestions: Fill up on a salad and ask for dressings ‘on the side’ If you choose a Wimpy burger, remember check the ‘100% PURE BEEF’ Logo and skip the sauces or ask for a sauce ‘on the side’ and use sparingly Lean portions of meat, such as the chicken kebabs are a good option Have a cappuccino with foamed milk instead of cream Opt for a fruit juice or a diet soda instead

Vegetarians

Q:	Are there any vegetarian options at Wimpy?
A:	Absolutely! Wimpy have realised that many people are choosing a vegetarian lifestyle and to make your food choices much easier, Wimpy now has a 100% VEGETARIAN Logo on their menu to help you make easy Vegetarian choices.