American Consumers Want More Healthy Snacks

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Consumers are becoming wiser these days, and they are not only buying snack foods to satisfy their cravings but also to maintain good health. Healthy snacks are the leading category for growth for companies looking to enter the “better-for-you” food market. Companies like Mondelez and Diamond Foods have taken into account the needs and preferences of consumers and are now offering nutritious foods in a variety of snack categories.

The healthy snack market is rapidly growing with a compound annual growth rate of 4.7% on overall sales. In the past two years, healthy bars have led the way in “better-for-you” snacks. The industry has a very positive outlook with a predicted growth of 5.7% per year into 2020.

Healthy Snacks Sell

healthy snacks shopping One of the significant reasons is that there is a rising preference among snackers for products that provide functional benefits. Second, products with “free from” labels are very appealing as many people suffer from different health conditions. Healthy snacks that are labeled gluten-free and allergen-free cater to an entirely new yet growing niche.

In general, adult consumers are snack more than ever before. In fact, 30% of most adults believe that snacking should be a part of their daily meals. They almost all agree that snacks are necessary to achieving daily nutrition requirements to sustain them through the day.

Large companies are Catching On…                                                                                                                     

The popularity of the healthy snack market has led many food manufacturers to invest in new equipment or acquire smaller niche brands. One of the fastest growing snack categories deals with protein based snacks like meat bars, nuts, and more.

Another development is the use of innovative flavors to make the healthy snack products unique. The market uses ethnic-based and other clever combinations to catch the attention of the consumers. This trend is very popular among the millennial and younger snackers who are not afraid to try new snack items as well as use snacks as meal replacements.

Aside from influencing the types of products that we see in the market, healthy snacking has also paved the way for many conventional snacking companies to create healthier snack lines. For instance, companies like Link Snacks, General Mills, PepsiCo, and ConAgra have ventured into the healthy meat snacks and snack bars. Moreover, even small retail stores and private labels have created products to answer the demand of the growing number of consumers who are looking for healthy snacks.

Inspired by fooddive.com

Simple Ingredients are Attracting Consumers to Natural Products

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Many consumers are not only more health conscious but are also becoming more careful shoppers. While many consumers still don’t look at the label, a growing group is focused on natural food and beverage products with simple ingredients.

The Clean Label Trend

There is an increasing number of people opting for clean labels. A clean label is simplifying the list of ingredients in a particular food and beverage product. It is a guiding purchasing behavior for future consumers, but it is a challenging call for food manufacturers.

This particular trend follows the five-ingredient rule which means that products should contain fewer and more recognizable ingredients to become attractive to many consumers. As this trend has evolved over time, efforts have also been made by many food and beverage manufacturers to use simple ingredients, and ensure that the ingredients used are as natural as possible.

Natural Ingredients are Simple Ingredients in Consumer Minds

With a lot of food products marketed as containing natural ingredients, many consumers find it difficult to define what “natural ingredients” means. Unfortunately, many food products claiming to be natural either have legitimate claims or just use buzzwords. The agency responsible for the ingredients’ definitions is the Food and Drug Agency (FDA).

So what are natural ingredients? Food writer Michael Pollan defines such ingredients as those that consumers can easily pronounce and recognize. These ingredients should be as close to their natural form and should not be overly processed nor should they contain additives like dyes or artificial preservatives.

The Demand for Natural Food Products

Clean labels are very popular throughout the industry and the demand for simple ingredients is influencing the sales of many food and beverage products. Many believe this trend is the leading reason for the organic & natural foods industry projected growth to experience a 14% rise in its total sales by 2020.

Unfortunately, this trend has also produced a lot of confusion among the consumers. According to global consumer research firm Mintel, more than 37% of the consumers remains confused about the information indicated in food labels, while 38% are skeptical of the information provided by these companies.

The solution to this confusion is to uphold transparency within the food industry so that this trend will resonate with all consumers. But how do food companies maintain transparency? Aside from making food labels comprehensible by using simple language, companies must reformulate their products using natural ingredients. Instead of using artificial sweeteners, natural alternatives may be employed. Food manufacturing companies can also look into their packaging and opt for a more sustainable look, instead of using plastic or foil packs.

This trend provides a tremendous opportunity for brands to increase revenue but also to connect with consumers. The cherry on top is brands will be seen as more trustworthy if they adopt simple ingredients and create clean labels for their products.

Inspired by fooddive.com

2016 American Consumer Snacking Trends

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Snacking is very popular among Americans. Most believe that snacks give them the energy to sustain their daily activities. Americans take snacks seriously and 75% of consumers place more importance on the health value of snacks than the taste.  In fact, the preference to healthy indulgence was reflected in the snack trends presented by the National Confectioners Association’s Sweet & Snacks Expo of 2016.

Hybrid Snacks

Hybrid snacks refer to those that are made from a combination of many ingredients like chips or meat snacks. During the expo, there was a rise in protein packed trail mixes that are made from meats and carbohydrates. Brands like Farmer’s Pantry, Tanka and Oberto have introduced hybrid snacks, and the general public has embraced. This type of snack trend has also led to the creation of unusual combinations like chocolate-covered meat jerky and pizza crust chips.

Fruit and Vegetables 

snacking on fruit and vegetables good health veggie straws nutrifusion grandfusion natural vitaminsSnacks that are based on fresh fruit and vegetables are very popular. These include the sweet dried or chocolate dipped fruits to the tasty veggie chips. Many consumers opt for fresh fruit and vegetable snacks because they are not only satisfying but also healthier than traditional snacks. Using an ingredient like GrandFusion nutrient blends gives brands the opportunity to add natural vitamins from fruit and/or vegetables without impacting the taste or texture of the snacks.

Emoji-Shaped Foods

Emoji-shaped snacks are preferred not because they are healthy but because they look attractive. The trend of snacking on emoji-shaped foods allows people to communicate their emotions without using words–just snacks. From Pez dispensers to emoji gummies, consumers will be able to express themselves with food.

Original Snacks

Eating old snacks like Hershey’s Kisses is nostalgic. One of the snack trends that seasoned food companies have adapted is to innovate their existing products. For instance, Cadbury created a new line of Crème Egg Cookies while Reese’s  and then collaborated with Hershey’s to create an ice cream topping. There is a need for popular brands to innovate to stay afloat in a competitive snack industry.

Global Flavors

Conventional snacks are made more interesting by infusing global flavors into them. Many food manufacturing companies incorporate new and exotic flavors to make their snacks interesting. For instance, Pop Art’s flavored popcorn features different flavors such as tandoori yogurt, nori sesame, and Thai coconut curry.

superfood snacking simple ingredients real ingredientsSnacking on Simple and Real Ingredients

With the high demand for snacks with clean labels, many food brands now feature simple ingredient lists that lack artificial colors and flavors. Most food companies also feature super food ingredients such as mulberries, goji berries, acai berries, and chia seeds. This particular snack trend caters to consumers who prefer to buy products made from natural ingredients. Although the price of healthy snacks is higher than conventional snacks, people consider it more bang for the buck.

Americans are snacking more than ever compared to the past few decades. The demand for new snacks from the consumers is driving many food companies to innovate and launch new products regularly. What will your next break-through snack be?

Inspired by mintel.com

UN Launches “Decade of Action on Nutrition” Resolution

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Every country in the world faces problems with poor nutrition. Researchers noted that the lack of proper nutrition in the first 1,000 days of a child could lead to irreversible developmental gaps. The problems of poor nutrition are often linked to the lack of food security. Food insecurity is a leading cause of the high rates of early death as well as disability among children, pregnant mothers, and older people. Ultimately, problems with inadequate nutrition are leading governments to spend more money on health care costs in the long run.

 

The UN Resolution

The United Nations General Assembly placed nutrition at the core of its sustainable development agenda by launching the “Decade of Action on Nutrition” resolution. The resolution recognizes the importance of improving nutrition and food security to achieve the 2030 Agenda alongside eliminating extreme poverty and climate change.

According to Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) director general Jose Graziano da Silva, “Children cannot focus on their education if they lack the nutrients that they need.  Sadly, the problem with malnutrition and food insecurity affects children and is a rampant problem in many emerging countries around the world. As a result, economies are affected as malnourished children grow up to be chronically tired workers.”

This resolution aims to provide a platform for change and action for the many stakeholders around the world. Signatories of the resolution–mostly world leaders and other organizations–call for the support of international organizations, governments, private sectors, academia, and civil societies to work together to end world hunger by improving the food security and nutrition of young people. The United Nations encourage all agencies and member states to encourages collective effort by sharing information and technology to improve food security. The resolution also proposes creating policies that can be implemented at the regional levels of countries around the world.

Non-government organizations such as Action Against Hunger was impressed that many advocates have agreed to support and commit to eliminating malnutrition by 2030. However, international advocacy director Glen Tarman noted that the resolution would require an enormous amount of both financial and political commitment from all countries involved and the United Nations only has a decade to make sure everything is aligned.

 

Obesity as Another Rising Problem

The resolution documents the UN’s concern that more than 800 million people are chronically undernourished all over the world. The resolution also expresses concern about the rising number of individuals who are overweight. About 1.9 billion adults are overweight in the world which also showed signs of micronutrient deficiency. Just because people are obese does not mean that they get enough nutrients from food.

Director of Nutrition of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization Anna Lartey noted that the rising numbers of obese people in poor regions particularly in Africa made the UN include obesity in the 2030 resolution.

Both obesity and malnourishment are significant problems in developing countries, and the United Nations has been working hard to address the problem. The decision may pave a way to finally finding a solution to this long-standing issue.

Inspired by fao.org

Consumers are Replacing Traditional Breakfast with Nutritional Drinks

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The adage “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” is no longer valid today, thanks to the rise in the popularity of performance and nutritional drinks. With the dietary habits of people evolving, many people opt for nutritional beverages as a favorite breakfast item these days.  About 35% of Americans agree that they do not adequately take care of themselves because they live very busy lifestyles and drinking performance drinks has become the norm for breakfast. Research conducted by Mintel indicated that 39% of people consume nutritional drinks every morning as a meal replacement while 48% consume them as part of their daily meals.

 

What Consumers Think About Nutritional Drinks

About 80% of consumers view nutritional drinks as a guilt-free beverage. Moreover, 69% believe that they are excellent sources of nutrients compared to tablets and pills. Many consumers drink nutritional drinks because they provide a more convenient method for eating whole foods.

Nutritional beverages are marketed very effectively by convincing consumers that they can maintain healthy lifestyles just by drinking them. The functional characteristic of nutritional drinks sets them apart from the rest of the beverages sold in the market.

Senior Food and Drink Analyst at Mintel, Beth Bloom, noted that performance drinks are the epitome of modern drinks as they provide the convenience that can fit the lifestyle and diet choices of the average American. Moreover, as many consumers move away from eating the traditional three meals a day, such beverages, fit in perfectly with their current lifestyle as they are affordable and accessible to many people who live very busy lives.

The Large Market Share of Nutritional Drinks

The favorable attributes of nutritional drinks are the reason why they are gaining a significant market share in the beverage category. Currently, there are now a lot of types of drinks under this category which includes weight loss formulas and sports drinks. Many consumers look for three basic characteristics when buying nutritional drinks including flavor, amount of protein, high fiber content, essential vitamins, and minerals.

Between 2010 and 2015, there was a surge in the sales growth of nutritional drinks of around 67% which is equivalent to $31 billion. Most of the sales come from sports drinks, which the industry growth is pegged at 22% during the same period. Weight loss drinks only have a 5% growth.

According to the Mintel’s Global New Products Database, manufacturers of products such as fruit juices, water, coffee, and tea have used the functional positioning as a platform to sell their goods to the market. Currently, many products have used the value of having functional attributes which are challenging the nutritional drinks in their strategy. Since the competition is very tough, the market has diversified the choices to their consumers. Nutritional beverage manufacturers should focus on promoting and substantiating their products’ efficacy by going for more natural products.

Inspired by mintel.com

Millennial Dads Spend Most Time Shopping for Groceries

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Fifty years ago, women did the shopping while men worked or relaxed at home. However, the trend of consumer shopping has considerably changed over the years, thanks to technology and the shift in society. In the study conducted by Ibotta, a top mobile shopping app, it indicated that there is a significant increase in the number of fathers doing grocery shopping. Since 2013, the buying behavior of 90,000 parents was analyzed in a study. It revealed that there is a 62% increase in grocery purchases made by millennial dads.  This means that fathers between the age of 18 and 24 tend to shop for groceries 25% more than baby boomer parents.

 

Purchase Trends

While alcohol is still on top of the shopping list of many dads, the study found that purchase of alcoholic beverages is indirectly proportional to the number of kids they have. This means that the purchase of alcohol decreases as the family has more children. The study also indicated that dads buy more alcohol if they have two children (at least one and a half times more) compared to men who are not yet fathers. The data is a little confusing, but it shows us that purchasing behavior is not one size fits all.

Dads are also 2.5x more likely to purchase cereals, soda, and snacks than men without children. They also tend to buy more cameras than non-dads for the purpose of documenting their children and growing family. They are also highly likely to buy things that can increase their family’s well-being. For instance, they are 4x more prone to buying supplements for improving their health. They are also keen on purchasing products that enhance their appearance such as hair regrowth products and anti-aging creams.

The study also noted the differences in shopping behaviors between dads and moms. Compared to mothers, fathers are 11x more likely to buy beer for themselves (Who would have known?). They also tend to buy more protein products and nutrition bars for themselves.

 

Millennial Dads Leading Shopping…What Does it Mean?

The shopping trips among moms slightly increased, but grocery purchases are down to 2.4% for three years. Surprisingly, more fathers make more trips to the grocery stores every month, and their general shopping trip was more than 10% compared to the previous years.  So what does this indicate? It means that many millennial dads play bigger and more proactive roles at home by shouldering more of the domestic responsibilities such as grocery shopping for the entire household. Gone are the days when dads leave the shopping to women.

Bijal Shah, VP of Analytics and Data Products for Ibotta, noted that there is a generational shift from old fathers who embraced traditional roles against younger dads who are savvy with technology, use e-commerce, and who are now becoming more active within the family life. The use of e-commerce can prove to be very beneficial for millennial dads as well as dads from the older generation as it provides them more opportunities to shop even within the comforts of their home.

Inspired by prnewswire.com/ibotta-study

USDA Says Obese People Can Lower Infection Risk With Grapes

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More than one-third of adults in the U.S. are obese. This translates to 78.6 million people suffering from obesity in the country alone. Obesity has become an epidemic in the U.S. and even in developing countries. Obesity is associated with different kinds of diseases like Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension to name a few. Moreover, obese individuals also have a higher risk of developing different types of infection that can further lower their immunity.

 

The Benefits of Grapes for Obese People

Obesity robs people from living quality lives. But with simple lifestyle changes, overweight people may be able to improve their conditions. A study conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) revealed that eating grapes can help people with obesity problems by decreasing harmful fats in their bloodstream that are associated with heart disease. The regular consumption of grapes can help lower the risk of infection for their overall health improvement.

But what makes grapes beneficial to the body? According to a molecular biologist, Susan Zunino from the Agricultural Research Service, grapes contains high amounts of phytochemicals. These are compounds naturally found in fruits like strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries.  These phytochemicals have positive effects on the body such as improving the condition of the immune system in people who suffer from obesity.

Grapes are one of the fruits with the highest levels of antioxidants like vitamin C, manganese, carotenoids, resveratrol, and stilbenes. Both the seeds and skins of grapes have a high concentration of antioxidants, so eating the whole fruit is necessary for capturing all of the antioxidants.

There are a lot of pro-inflammatory molecules also known as free radicals in our bodies and eating phytochemical-rich fruits can help lower the production of such particles. These include the interleukins and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). The ability of grapes to reduce inflammatory allows the body to heal itself naturally.

 

Study Shows the Power of Antioxidant-Rich Foods

Hospital documentation suggests that obese people have higher chances of developing viral or bacterial infection after surgery. In fact, 35% of Americans who sought hospitalization developed some infection after their hospital stay.

The study proved that the power of grapes in treating obese patients is simply remarkable. Researchers divided the participants into two groups and gave the participants a mixture of grape powder and water while the other group received nothing but a placebo for three weeks.

Based on the blood samples obtained from the participants, those who drank the grape mixture have better blood lipid profile, inflammation markers, and immune system compared to those who have taken the placebo mixture. Consumption of grapes lowers the concentration of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) which is also dubbed as the bad cholesterol and is associated with heart disease. Another remarkable thing about eating grapes is that it can stimulate the production of cytokines which are proteins that help fight off the infection in the body.

While consuming fruits like grapes can lower inflammation in the body, further studies need to be conducted to understand the mechanisms behind why the consumption of grapes can have beneficial effects on patients suffering from obesity.

Inspired by ars.usda.gov

NPR Report: Dairy Fat Linked to Lower Diabetes Risk

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If you love to eat cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products, then this article is for you.  A new study revealed that the consumption of dairy fats that are found in cheese, yogurt, and milk have protective effects against Type 2 diabetes.

Published in the journal Circulation and cited in the website NPR, the study reviewed the blood samples of adult participants to measure the biomarkers for dairy fat. The study started during the late 1980s and over the next twenty years, researchers tracked down the same people and determined who developed diabetes.

Interestingly, the study showed that individuals who consume most dairy fat in their diet have a 50% lower risk of developing diabetes compared to those who consumed less to no dairy fat at all. The lead author, Dariush Mozaffarian from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, noted that this study debunks the idea that eating saturated fat–those found in dairy products–is harmful to the body.

 

Health Benefits of Dairy Fat

Research published in the European Journal of Nutrition indicates that the consumption of full dairy fat is good for controlling weight gain than the consumption of low-fat dairy. Low obesity risk also means a lowered risk for type 2 diabetes. But how can a high-calorie food be useful in controlling weight? Experts noted that not all calories are equal and drinking full fat milk can make people feel satiated sooner and for a longer time thus making an individual eat less with a longer time duration in between meals.

Another important characteristic of full-fat dairy milk is that the fatty acids found in milk play a paramount role in gene expression as well as hormone regulation. This means that the acids can crank up how much energy the body burns. The fats found in dairy foods also contain a lot of complex micro and macro nutrients.  Full-fat milk contains 62% saturated fat, 30% monosaturated fat, 4% polyunsaturated fat and 4% naturally occurring trans fatty acids. It also contains linoleic acid.

The study noted that drinking full fat milk is not only effective in controlling weight among adults but also children. In fact, children who have a higher intake of whole milk do not gain much weight over time compared to those who consume skim or non-fat dairy products.

 

Moderation is Still the Key to Good Health

While the consumption of dairy fat, according to the NPR article, can reduce the risk of developing diabetes, heart diseases, and obesity, this does not mean that you should gorge on milk or put butter on everything that you eat. Remember that too much of a good thing is also bad.  It is important that you also consume foods that are high in fiber such as fruits and vegetables as they are critical for digestion and further helps manage the blood sugar levels in the body. Combining milk, fruits, and vegetables increases your chances of having better health.

So the next time you want to drink milk or eat cheese, ditch the low-fat ones so that you can get the full benefits of dairy fat.

Inspired by npr.org/thesalt