SNACK FOODS

When you choose snack foods wisely that is healthy to eat between meals, it helps to control your appetite and meet your nutritional needs. Good nutrition is one of the keys to a healthy life. Your health improves by keeping a balanced diet. Therefore, you should eat foods that contain vitamins and minerals. This includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, and a source of protein.

Like everything moderation is key to smart snacking. Therefore, people who eat regular balanced meals and healthy snacks are less likely to overeat. Hence, they don’t gain weight than people who skip meals or go for long periods without eating.

Industry challenges

Volatile input prices, increasing competition and substitute products over the past five years has put the Snack Manufacturing industry in challenging position. However, despite these challenges growth in both disposable income and demand from supermarkets has seen the industry perform moderately well over the period. Manufacturers are embracing changes in consumer behaviour and caters for the increasingly health-conscious consumers. The rising needs for higher value and gourmet products support the industry growth. It will be resulting in industry revenue growing at an annualised 2.7% over the five years through 2017-18, to $2.5 billion.

Industry threats

Heath conscious consumers are moving from high fat and salty snacks to more healthier range. The demand for healthier products in the past five years supports the industry growth. Healthy and gourmet snack foods are forecast to account for a rising share of revenue.

Healthier snacks

For nourishing snack foods that embody the wholesome goodness you should choose snacks made from whole foods. Foods that are made from all natural ingredients, no GMO or MSG and no trans-fat are generally a healthier choice.

Snacks made from chickpea flour which may include bhuja mix, vege crackers, sweet potato chips and hummus chips are excellent healthier snack choice. Other healthy and tasty whole food snacks are cassava chips, taro chips, fruit bars and snacks made from seeds and whole grains.

Coconut chips are new everyday snack that is perfect ‘pick me up’ any time of the day. The delicious and nutritious roasted coconut chips suitable to sprinkle on breakfast meals and desserts

Smart snacking

Snacking is not bad for you. We all snack. If you are smart about how you snack you will feel better and maybe look better too. You may be surprised how tasty healthy snacks are and you get to try all the new things. One should check the nutrition label and choose wisely. You should look out for added sugars and salt when shopping.