Healthy Snack Food Trends

The trends in new age snacks reveal that healthier and more wholesome snacks such as Keto Snacks, Paleo Snacks, Carb-free Snacks, and other Sugar-Free Snacks, etc. There is a growing demand for healthy snacks and the savory snack industry is expected to grow from $94 billion in 2015 to about $138.2 billion by the year 2020. Here are some of the growing trends in the healthy snack food production in 2018;

#1: Healthy snacks will become the “fourth meal”

More Americans are now replacing their regular meals with easy grab and go healthy meals such as carb-free snacks that contain 95% of fat and protein and less than 5% carbs. The fourth meal does not necessarily mean people are eating more, it means they are replacing their breakfast, lunch or dinner with crunchy but healthier alternatives. individuals who eat early for dinner may find themselves feeling hungry again before they return to bed but healthy snacks such as paleo or any other sugar-free snacks will keep them satiated until bedtime.

#2: Bland is being banned

Perhaps one of the fastest growing trends in healthy snacking is the fact that the tastes of consumers are becoming more complex than before. Even the local restaurants are replacing unhealthy sugary foods with more vegetarian-style dishes. People are no more going for the natural pizzas and burgers, they are trying out different complex options, especially when it comes to snacks.

Paleo snacks, for instance, are becoming more prominent and they have ingredients that pre-date back to the medieval era when man lived in the cave. More than 40% of consumers say new flavor play a critical role in their choices of snacks, while 55% or more believe that the healthy-go options are easier to order whether in-store or online, hence they want to stick with such options. The grab-on-the-go snacks such as carb-free diets are not necessarily made up of fruits and vegetables, they do contain more protein and unsaturated fats that can get your body into a ketogenic phase whereby your body relies on burning fat for energy instead of sugar.

#3: More varieties on the increase

Even common snacks such as popcorn now have varieties. For instance, fiber-enriched popcorns with natural sweeteners such as cane sugar, and honey, are replacing the traditional popcorn that is packed with white and brown sugar. As the millennials begin to raise families, it is becoming more important to feed new children with healthier snacks, considering the unprecedented increase in the risks of 0besity. Healthier snacks like paleo and low-carb snacks are now replacing regular snacks in supermarkets and restaurant, even the unhealthy snacks are gradually becoming filled with healthier ingredients.

As 2018 runs to an end, the world will witness a surge in the production of new healthy snacks that will eventually replace the older and unhealthy snacks in the long run. The reason for this is that healthier snacks can now be purchased on the go, either in-store or online. The government’s multi-billion-dollar campaign to end obesity and related diseases will also ensure that people become more conscious of what they put in their mouth.