Recently I was preparing for a presentation on trends in the healthy snacks market at an event hosted by Good Food, the largest supplier of nuts and dried fruits to the Russian market. In the process of preparation, I found interesting information about bagged snacks, which emerged in the wake of two trends: an interest in healthy eating and an increasing need to snack on the run.
Cabbage and algae chips, dried coconut and tropical fruits, freeze-dried berries and whole grain chips are no longer revolutionary in this market. But those products, which I will describe below, seemed funny to me.
“Healthy” chocolate
In pursuit of consumers increasingly opting for “healthy” snacks, chocolate makers are enriching their products with additional ingredients such as probiotics, superfoods, and live bacteria.
Cabbage ice cream
Mega-popular among raw foodists, vegans and other adherents of a healthy diet, a product called kale, or browncol, aka kale / kale, is conquering the world of packaged snacks by leaps and bounds. Now you can buy not only smoothies, juices and chips, but also ice cream made from this green plant. Forget about the creamy sundae; your choice is an icy browncolle on a stick.
Chia pudding
Chia, an ancient seed that is an indispensable source of protein, omega-3 fats, fiber and long carbohydrates for raw foodists and vegans, has become a snack. Blended with coconut milk and fruit, they come in sleek, handy jars with a spoon. And this is just the beginning! Chia seeds have an interesting feature: if you pour them over with liquid, they become jelly-like, and this can be easily used to make puddings and similar desserts and snacks.
Vegetable yoghurts
Yoghurts made from carrots, tomatoes, parsnips and beets are quite popular in New York today. Milk from organically grown cows and natural sweet vegetables are combined in a very beneficial way.
Animal Energy Bars
One of the hottest trends in the health food industry is the emphasis on getting enough protein in the diet. Many snack manufacturers are taking advantage of this trend and offering customers exciting solutions such as animal protein energy bars.
EPIC Bar produces turkey, lamb, bison, beef based EPIC protein bars that are highly nutritious and sugar-free. The motto of the company: “This is how our ancestors ate!” He appeals to the adherents of the paleo diet fashionable in the West, which encourages sympathizers to eat as close as possible to the diet of our ancestors.
Insect Energy Bars
Chapul protein bars introduced edible insects to America. They contain 15% more iron than spinach and are rich in vitamin B12, and the insect flavor is masked by other ingredients, including chocolate, coffee, coconut, and ginger.