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How Innovative Food Companies Are Meeting Demand For Healthier Choices Without Sacrificing Flavor

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Perhaps as an unintended result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are focusing more on our health as well as that of the planet. When it comes to food, things like plant-based, superfoods, probiotics and prebiotics, fermented, functional ingredients and adaptogens are increasingly sought after.

If you made it through, or even just contemplated Veganuary, you already know these things are good for you. But in our busy lives, we are also searching for convenience in the kitchen, and food manufacturers are taking notice.

For instance, Meatless Farm is a UK plant-based food company recently launched in the US, aiming to make meat substitutes tastier and more widely consumed. Their current line of meat-free ground and burgers are gluten-free, made from high-quality, non-GMO ingredients like pea protein, and have a hearty 21g of protein and 3g of fiber per serving.

Meatless Farm has recently added new products including hot dogs and Chik’n cutlets and nuggets. Flavor and texture are spot-on, sure to satisfy diverse taste buds and even the pickiest eaters. For inspiration, the company’s team of chefs and nutritionist have developed recipes to guide you.

Plant-based milk products are also gaining popularity, and leading the category is Planet Oat. “With so much innovation and choice in the plant-based milk category, consumers are looking for what best meets their needs and usages,” says Chris Ross, senior vice president of marketing, research and development for the company.

“Planet Oat oat milk is delicious, creamy and excels in coffee, smoothies and more, so it was no surprise to us to see oat milk sales volume triple in 2020, with Planet Oat capturing 36% volume share as the market leader,” he says, adding that they have just expanded the brand portfolio to include an unsweetened oat milk, coffee creamers and frozen desserts.

“This is truly an exciting time to be part of the plant-based revolution,” says chef Dave Anderson, creator of Beyond Meat and a line of plant-based snacks for Outstanding Foods. “What we have seen so far is just the beginning as meatless continues to become more and more mainstream. The ever-increasing demand for foods that are plant-based, better-for-you and better-for-the-planet opens the door to endless possibilities for innovation.”

Last year, inspired by take-out meals, Anderson developed TakeOut, the first-ever nutritious meal in a puff. By blending a proprietary mix of nutrients and plant-based protein, TakeOut packs 30% of the recommended daily values including iron, calcium, vitamin D, and many more, into one 3oz bag. The puffs are available in four flavors that won’t stain your fingers and will satisfy your craving for a crunchy snack while providing actual grab-and-go nutrition.

Anderson also came up with PigOut Pigless Bacon Seasoning, a plant-based product free of gluten, GMOs, cholesterol, calories, carbs and fat. Sprinkle on popcorn, avocado toast, fries, pizza or anything you fancy. It comes in four bacony flavors, packaged in an adorable pig-shaped shaker. With each purchase, customers will receive a free e-book with 100% plant-based recipes from the renowned chef. “I’m really excited to share what Outstanding Foods has in store for this on-going meatless movement,” he says.

Health conscious parents are also demanding plant-based products for their children. Once Upon a Farm, the largest and fastest growing plant-based children’s nutrition company, pioneered the first cold-pressed, organic fruit and veggie blends for babies. Using cold-pressure (also known as high-pressure pasteurization or HPP) to keep products safe and free of harmful bacteria while locking in nutrients, they make non-dairy fruit and veggie blends, smoothies and dairy-free yogurts with no added sugar, artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.

Multi-benefit foods are also on the rise, with people seeking convenient alternatives that are more nutritious. For example, RightRice is a grain blend packed with legumes to provide more plant-based protein and fiber and a lot less carbs. Shaped like rice kernels and made from lentils, chickpeas, peas and rice, it provides more than double the protein, five times the fiber, and almost 40% fewer net carbs than a bowl of white rice. This tasty innovation is shelf-stable, cooks in about 10 minutes, and is super easy to whip up on a busy weeknight.

Low carb, keto-friendly and gluten-free alternatives to bread continue in high demand, and companies keep delivering. Outer Aisle’s cauliflower-based sandwich thins and pizza crusts are convenient and versatile. Made with four simple Non-GMO ingredients - cage free eggs, Parmesan cheese, nutritional yeast and more than 63% fresh cauliflower, they are satisfying in flavor and texture for endless uses.

For a healthier, organic alternative to regular pizza, Alex’s Awesome Sourdough is the first sourdough based frozen pizza brand, offering tasty mushroom, sunflower pesto and mozzarella flavors that go from freezer to crispy crust perfection in just 10 minutes. The dough is naturally fermented which makes it gut-friendly, increases the bioavailable nutrients in the dough and lowers its glycemic index. Plus, they are customizable - you can add any toppings of your choosing to make them even tastier.

Austin-based Siete Family Foods, the leading health-conscious Mexican American food brand, is debuting 10 new products in 2021, including grain free Churro Strips and cookies, kettle cooked potato chips, and cooking seasonings. Lauded for its innovative products, the company is expanding across several categories and product lines, which range from grain free tortillas and tortilla chips to enchilada sauces and cashew queso.

“More than ever, consumers are conscious of what they’re eating and what is in the food they consume,” said Miguel Garza, co-founder and CEO of Siete Foods, which is one of the top three fastest growing natural brands in the industry, and is the number one natural tortilla brand, taco shell brand, refrigerated cheese dip brand, and cooking sauce brand on the market.

Better for you snacking is also at an all-time high. California’s Mooney Farms, maker of sundried tomato products since 1986, has recently added Bella Sun Luci Plant-Based Tomato Jerky to their roster. Containing all the healthy goodness of a tomato and the smoky flavor and texture of jerky, these delicious snacks offer 6g of protein and are a great source of lycopene, potassium and fiber and come in flavors like Teriyaki & Cracked Pepper, Sriracha and Hickory Smoked. They are perfect right out of the bag but go well in salads, as pizza toppers or chopped and added to trail mix.

Satisfying a sweet tooth is probably the most challenging while trying to eat better, especially for kids. Enter Clio Snacks, Greek yogurt bars that taste like cheesecake covered in chocolate. Their core flavors include blueberry, peanut butter and espresso, and the new less sugar line bars are keto friendly, providing 8 gr of protein and only 100 calories and 1 gr of sugar, in flavors like peach, mixed berries, açaí and coconut, which might be perfect for those looking to spring clean their diet a bit.

Fans of mochi should check out Bubbies, makers of a vegan plant-based twist on the classic Japanese novelty. These rice-dough based treats are made with non-GMO all-natural ingredients and real fruit puree, and come in individually wrapped packaging that’s sustainable, using 75 percent less plastic than the leading competitor’s single-serve packaged mochi. Their vegan, coconut-based flavors include chocolate and strawberry.

Kosterina has created a line of 100% pure, ultra-premium extra virgin olive oil dark chocolate bars rich in antioxidants thanks to the high polyphenols (430mg/kg) in the brand’s extra virgin olive oil. Made with 70% cacao organic dark chocolate, organic cacao butter, organic coconut sugar, the bars are finished with sea salt and mixed with Mediterranean ingredients including almonds, honey, vanilla and figs. Available in Nuts, Cinnamon & Honey, Almond Butter & Vanilla, and Fig & Balsamic, customers have the choice to purchase a Chocolate Box subscription or a la carte Mezze Box.

What if your heart desires a candy bar that’s not loaded with sugar and other questionable ingredients? Stu Davidoff found himself longing for such an alternative, so he created Gigantic, an all-new vegan candy bar. “I found the substitutes for candy bars to be boring, so I set out to create one geared to a more mature, sophisticated palate and a more health-conscious consumer that still delivers the old-school, gotta-have-it experience,” he says.

Made with fair trade dark chocolate, 69% less sugar than the leading candy bar and no alternative sweeteners, Gigantic comes in flavors like Salted Peanut, Almond Horchata, Banana Pecan, and Hazelnut Café. Even the caramel is plant-based, made from coconut milk.

“Gigantic is sweet, but in a restrained way. It’s a balanced sweetness that can co-exist with other nuanced flavors, without stealing the show,” says Davidoff, who describes the bars as sortasweet. “it’s a genuine sweetness,” he adds. “We don’t use artificial or alt-sweeteners like erythritol, stevia or monkfruit. Those just aren’t for me.”

No doubt, food companies will continue innovating to meet the increasing demand for products that are better for you, providing nutrition and benefits without sacrificing the pleasure of enjoying a delicious meal or snack.

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