Whether it's a quick granola bar post-workout or a few handfuls of almonds before your dinner date, we've all done it. Snacking.
It's that mini-meal that tides you over and helps you get through the day. But, with much concern over health and the awareness of how eating affects our bodies long-term, snacking has not always been seen positively.
In 2014, you will see brands and nutritionists embrace snacking for better health.
When researching the association between daily snacking frequency and the Healthy Eating Index, the NPD Group found (on average) that as snacking increased so did individuals' overall diet quality (including both snack and meal occasions) - a key finding that shows 'people who eat snacks have healthier diets. Of course, this also means that food makers are expanding their own offerings to ensure healthier snacks are available. In fact, nearly 60 percent of all snack foods are now positioned as being healthy.
In a recent ConAgra Foods online survey conducted with SupermarketGuru.com, consumers said they were most likely to snack in the afternoon or later at night, with salty snacks named by 69 percent of respondents as the most popular snack, followed by sugary snacks and vegetables named by less than a third of respondents.
Look for supermarkets to capitalize on the healthier snacking trend - especially at the checkout - and replace traditional high-sugar, high-fat snacks with healthier on-the-go offerings.
Stay tuned for more of my 2014 food trend predictions on Parade.com, and learn more at SupermarketGuru.com
Supermarket Guru Phil Lempert shares his predictions on what we'll find in the supermarket in 2014 and beyond. In this series, Lempert explain emerging food trends, how it they will come to life in the upcoming year and why they matter to you.