Portable snacks are replacing sit down meals as modern consumers crave convenience because of busy lifestyles.
More than half of all Americans say that they suffered from extreme stress in 2017, according to data from The Futures Company. Nowadays, the average consumer juggles careers, families and their social life, while also thinking about how they will maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Mini meals become popular
Sit down meals are becoming rare in today’s society. A quarter of respondents in a recent DSM Food Specialties survey eat breakfast in less than five minutes a day.
As a result, snacks are stepping in as mini meals for many consumers. In a recent survey from Technomic, more than a third of respondents said they replace at least one meal a day with snacks and 15% stated that it was easier to consume a snack on the go rather than a full meal. Consumers were most likely to replace breakfast or lunch with a snack.
“Fundamental changes in eating patterns, largely driven by increasingly busy lifestyles, are giving way to less traditional meal patterns,” Lu Ann Williams, Director of Innovation at Innova Market Insights, explained to www.foodingredientsfirst.com. “This is shifting to a more fragmented and flexible eating style, encompassing multiple small meals or snacks, often eaten alone or on-the-go.”
Between 2014 and 2018, food and beverage launches with a snacking claim had a 14% annual average growth, according to Innova Market Insights.
Easy to prepare, convenient and healthy
Not just any snack will do. On-the-go consumers are interested in eating products that are not only convenient but will also help them live healthy lives.
Ultimately, consumers are looking for what Innova Market Insights calls “The Right Bite,” one of their top food trends for 2020. As consumers balance the demands of their busy lifestyles, the demand for nutritious food that is easy-to-prepare, convenient and portable has increased.
This creates an opportunity for food producers to create options that are quick, convenient and healthy for busy consumers. Earlier this year, Tyson Foods launched the Pact brand of refrigerated snack bites, a protein-filled mixture of food and nuts designed to be an easy and convenient way to eat a nutritious meal. Single-serve lunchmeat options from Hormel Foods serve as an easy on-the-go snack. High-protein egg white chips could soon be coming to a grocery store near you.
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