Announcing A Great New Partnership
Apr 01, 2012, Updated Aug 17, 2017
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Update, sometime after April 1, 2012: Just kidding!  This was my annual April Fools post. I haven’t actually sold out to Pepsico, and I’m pretty sure they won’t be making “Chia Cheetos” anytime soon!  (but if they do, I want a kickback…)  🙂
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Last August I had the privilege of hearing Indra Nooyi, the CEO of PepsiCo, speak at the BlogHer Conference in San Diego.
At the time, I was highly critical of what she said. Well, word of my criticism actually got back to Ms. Nooyi, and to my surprise, she reached out to me personally!
After several surprising hours with her on the phone, and even chatting into the wee hours of the night about everything from farm subsidies to school lunches, I started to understand how her vision of PepsiCo’s “Better For You” products will be able to make healthier choices an accessible, affordable reality for everyone.
For example, we all know that most Americans are not getting enough fiber in their diets — and we also know that Quaker Oats are a terrific source of fiber. But no one likes to eat mushy, bland oatmeal! I now think my original frustrations were short-sighted: I’ve come to realize that combining the nutritious, fibrous power of oatmeal with a delicious, trans-fat-free breakfast cookie is the only possible way we’re going to get kids to eat their oats.
Similarly, the new Trop50 line is the only scientifically proven way to help reduce the amount of “empty” calories Americans are drinking. By replacing half the actual juice with water (and including just a tiny amount of Generally Recognized As Safe sweeteners and flavoring agents), we can simultaneously boost people’s water intake while reducing the amount of unnecessary sugar they consume. And with a full day’s supply of added Vitamin C, no one will ever have to suffer from Scurvy again!
They’ve also been quite receptive to my ideas of how to make their products even better. Based on our conversations, they’re currently in development for Seven-Grain 7UP, Flaxseed Fritos, and (my personal favorite) Chia Cheetos!
After working together so well behind-the-scenes, Ms. Nooyi (and her lawyers) and I have decided it’s time to publicly proclaim our partnership. So I’m thrilled to announce that as of today, April 1st, PepsiCo is now the flagship sponsor of Eating Rules!
As part of this arrangement, I’ve sold them the full naming rights to the site, and soon I’ll be moving everything to the new domain: PepsiCoRules.com (be sure to click through for a “beta” preview of the new site!)
I wholeheartedly believe that this partnership will make Eating Rules truly “Better For You,” and I thank you for your continued support!
I read this on my iphone and immediately told me husband about it. We were both perplexed at why you would have done this…..and then he said later in the day, “you know that eating rules guy? it’s gotta be an april fools joke!”. Andrew, that was really good. How’d ya come up with those names?? chia cheetos? HAAAAHAHAAA!! was awesome.
Thank goodness I read the comments, I was MAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good one, :))))
I have to say, you got me too! I couldn’t believe it — especially reading this a day or two late. Thank goodness it is a joke!
Phew! You really had me for a minute there!
Perfect April Fools joke! My kids were happily scarfing down my “bland, mushy oatmeal” sweetened only with yucky apples and raisins as I was reading it!
Nice one. You had me. Hahaha.
my cat actually just did that last long rambling word! and i dont feed my cats junky food, either. !!!
omg, it was a joke, thank god! although the marketing sharks at pepsi, have already seen this and are on it already…have you seen whonu cookies???? what am i a moron???llllllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Seven grain 7-up? flaxseed fritos? chia cheerios?? OMG really? they can put all the flaxseed in the world in fritos, they are still not REAL food, and the fact that you would encourage people to buy ANYTHING made by pepsi, is just sickening. Marketing is a billion dollar industry and if they wanted to they could probably convince people to eat dogfood…..This is just extremely disappointing on soooooo many levels.
Like the rest of the folks, you totally had me. I felt so let down and crushed that you’d let yourself be bought out. Then…..I remembered what day it was and decided to read the comments. WHEW!
You are one crafty guy!