As more 2013 food trends have flooded the news, a common theme regarding consumers resonates: health and wellness.
According to Dr. Catherine Adams Hutt, RD, from Sloan Trends, younger people are thinking more about energy, body image, shape and tone; everyone is thinking about weight management and curbing hunger pangs between meals; and boomers want to stay energetic, strong and active as they age. Therefore, she feels protein will be the trend in 2013 across all age groups.
Innova Market Insights, part of the Innova Database, an online new product development tracking tool, also listed a protein overdrive in their lineup of 2013 trends. They also believe that there will be more “free-from” claims becoming increasingly prevalent, such as lactose-free, which will follow the now mainstream gluten-free set. Innova Market Insights also sees brain function remaining a top concern for the aging population, so we should expect more products on a cognitive health platform.
Studies from the NPD Group also show that nutrition and healthy eating habits are top meal-planning priorities for baby boomers. With that in mind, we can expect to see more heart-healthy antioxidant-rich foods taking over the supermarkets, including oily fish such as salmon, as well as green tea, sweet potatoes, dark leafy greens, popcorn, berries and whole grains.
According to Phil Lempert, the Supermarket Guru, smaller bites and more frequent eating patterns will be a trend in 2013 that will help reduce overall portion size and increase variety for consumers. Lempert also predicts that frozen food will be big in 2013, and there will be an increased emphasis on nutrition in frozen food as consumers continue to make fewer meals from scratch.
Paul Grimwood, chairman and CEO of Nestlé USA stated that it is clear consumers are much more health conscious today than ever before. He also noted that Nestlé USA will always strive to find new and innovative ways to help consumers lead a healthier, more enjoyable life.