Pouches are reshaping the adult snack category. Young and old are sucking up the latest fruit and veggie blends for convenient, on-the-go nutrition. Given their superb packability and one-hand-eating potential, BPA-free pouches have specifically captivated sports enthusiasts, busy professionals and parents hungry for better-for-you options that expand beyond the typical bar. Stock these 5 favorites.
How has a tiny South American seed relatively unknown to U.S. consumers six years ago made its way into products ranging from baby food to cosmetics? That's easy. Quinoa, a naturally complete protein, can blend seamlessly and add nutrition to nearly any food product and tastes delicious. See where it's appearing on every aisle.
Filipino Pancit with spiced chicken, Indian-spiced chickpeas over cumin-scented basmati rice, ricotta-stuffed shells in marinara. No, these aren't items on restaurant menus, new frozen meals are stepping up their offerings by going global. Rather than the expected chicken pot pie or Swedish meatballs, manufacturers realize that to draw consumer attention it's all about providing meals that emphasize flavors that aren't easily found elsewhere. These 5 brands are heating up the frozen aisle.
Mother Nature shines in each sip of the latest gourmet refrigerated juices.Unlike the overly processed, nutritionally marginal products of yesteryear, these next-gen offerings taste like they came straight from the home juicer—thanks to the advent of high-pressure processing. This new pasteurization method uses pressure rather than intense heat to destroy harmful pathogens, allowing beneficial enzymes and nutrients to stay intact. Serve up these single-serve options.
While we reported that alternative sweetener sales declined between 2010 and 2012, when you pull out artificial sweeteners and just look at natural options the category is actually increasing. According to SPINS, natural sweeteners are up 15.2 percent in 52 week period ending Oct., 26, 2013. One reason? Rather than touting these products as sugar alternatives, marketing efforts focus on healthful benefits and unique flavor profiles. See what makes these 5 options sweet.
Sure, it's called a coconut, but that furry brown thing that falls from the coconut palm tree is actually a giant seed—one of the world's largest and perhaps most versatile. Southeast Asian cultures have long relied on coconut for its husk, milk and meaty interior, and yet Americans, though seemingly crazy for coconuts too, are relatively new to accepting its diverse adaptations. What started as an interest in coconut water for its electrolytes has blossomed into a functional ingredient frenzy. Check out 5 hot products capitalizing on the coconut craze.
Popcorn just might be the perfect snack food. Convenient, bursting with flavor and often low in calories, this naturally better-for-you option can satisfy both sweet and salty cravings. Natural consumers certainly have become fans. Popcorn sales swelled 24 percent in the natural channel in the 12 months ending Feb. 16, 2013, according to SPINS. While popped snack options used to be pretty tasteless (remember rice cakes?), new versions offer satisfying flavor combinations and added nutritional benefits to appeal to anyone looking to munch with impunity. See which snack foods are going pop.
It should be a crime to pair a rich marinara or luscious cream sauce with a merely tolerable gluten-free pasta. Luckily, more and more manufacturers agree. To move past the once-commonplace mushy, shapeless gluten-free noodles, brands are pairing Old World standards with New World ingenuity. See which unexpected ingredients these brands are using to deliver the right flavor and texture.
Sure, delivering energy is great. But for a natural boost, savvy consumers can just as easily reach for green tea or coffee, which, in addition to offering antioxidant benefits, each contain a single, safe ingredient, unlike energy drinks’ dizzying array of additives. So to capture consumers’ attention, natural drinks must offer more than just a healthy energy lift—think electrolytes, protein, fiber and a dose of vitamins. Sample these innovative favorites.
From amusing novelty to health food staple to finished-product ingredient darling, chia has made itself over and over in the last 20 years. It’s easy to see why: The seed has so much potential. It’s one of the few plant-based sources of omega-3s, has ample fiber and offers protein. Check out 5 surprising places the seed popped up in 2013.
High-protein claims posted 54 percent growth between 2007 and 2012, according to Mintel. One reason for the increase? The rising prominence of the Paleo diet, which encourages eaters to consume a diet high in protein and vegetables. On the other end of the spectrum as veganism continues to grow, consumers are hunting for plant-based protein-fortified foods to strengthen their diets. These new high-protein foods please both camps.
Consumers are once again hot for frozen treats. The ice cream category reached $11.1 billion last year, a 4.1 percent increase, according to market research firm Mintel, which expects sales to continue climbing to $12.7 billion by 2017. One reason for growth: Manufacturers, tuned into budget- and calorie-conscious shoppers, are innovating with single-serve novelties that offer portion control and the ability to buy just one unit. Convenient sandwiches, push pops, popsicles and cups particularly appeal to millennial shoppers who are the most likely to eat these products away from home, right after purchasing. With options like these 5 favorites, we can't blame them.
Consumers are once again hot for frozen treats. The ice cream category reached $11.1 billion last year, a 4.1 percent increase, according to market research firm Mintel, which expects sales to continue climbing to $12.7 billion by 2017. One reason for growth: Manufacturers, tuned into budget- and calorie-conscious shoppers, are innovating with single-serve novelties that offer portion control and the ability to buy just one unit. Convenient sandwiches, push pops, popsicles and cups particularly appeal to millennial shoppers who are the most likely to eat these products away from home, right after purchasing. With options like these 5 favorites, we can't blame them.
We've certainly seen plenty of food trends come and go over the years from low-carb everything to salsa everywhere. What stood out this year? Convenience snacks, super food ingredients and specialty diet formulations caught our food editor's radar. While what's driving new products seems steeped in ancient health wisdom, it's truly anyone's guess what will stick around into 2014 and beyond. Take a look and leave a comment of what you think might be here to stay.
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