As seen in PanamaOn.com (translated from Spanish)
Today's parents are increasingly trying to send healthy food to their children as a snack for school. But sometimes it becomes something much more complicated than expected.
In the United States, 42% of households with children agree that there are not enough healthy packaged snacks in individual formats or reclosable packaging (Mintel). It is no surprise then that only 27% of the packaged snacks reach 3 of the 5 requirements of the National School Feeding Program of that country. This can become a great opportunity for food and beverage companies to take advantage of an unhealthy market for healthy packaged foods that children would be happy to include in their lunchbox.
It should be noted that a nutritionally healthy infant product can influence the purchase of food and beverages from parents by 91%. According to nutrition experts at Harvard University a healthy diet includes approximately 50% fruits and vegetables, 25% protein, 25% whole grains and 2 to 3 servings of dairy per day. Taking this into account if we offer a turkey ham sandwich on rye bread with a tomato slice is not as balanced a snack as parents could assume. That is why brands can help parents reach 50% of the fruits and vegetables they need by offering more packaged options to make a difference.
One company that is responding to this challenge is Sneakz Organic, which contains half a serving of fruit and half vegetables in its milkshakes of different flavors. Carrot, cauliflower, sweet potato, spinach and beet are included in the product Strawberry Milkshake.
Including in drinks an adequate percentage of fruits and vegetables is possible. Tetra Pak's packaging has six protective layers that guarantee the nutritional properties of food and its food safety, plus they offer the advantage that do not require refrigeration before being consumed. These six layers protect the food, whether juice or milk drinks, against the action of light, air, water and microorganisms, also prevent the natural flavor of the product to dissipate, thus maintaining the integrity of the food for more weather.
School lunch is not the only place where brands should consider being - after all, moments to enjoy a child snack are endless, as many parents know. According to the recent Healthy Buying 2016 report by the Food Marketing Institute and Rodale, a nutritionally healthy infant product influences 91% the purchase of food and beverages from parents.
Although the parents do the shopping, the children decide
According to our research to nearly 500 consumers, 80% of all supermarket purchases are influenced by the requirements of the children. So what you call to buy from a nutritional perspective, must first be visually appealing.
The company Apple & Eve was one of the pioneers in achieving this approach in 1999, when they associated with Plaza Sesame to teach the children about healthy eating. Abelardo, Elmo and other familiar faces greeted the children from the same juice boxes, becoming "the favorite drink among preschoolers," according to The New York Times.
For companies seeking a balance between the care of children and their parents in the healthy snack segment, the potential for growth is great as we approach the return to school in the months that follow.
Origin of the information
This information is part of the Blog Envasando Ideas, which offers multimedia content on trends, perspectives and analysis to inspire innovation and add value to the food and beverage industry. This is the Spanish version of the blog Ideas Unpacked, belonging to Tetra Pak USA, but with local content according to the Latin American reality.
Visit Packing Ideas and follow us at @tetrapakcc / www.Facebook.com/tetrapakcc to continue the conversation.
ABOUT TETRA PAK
Tetra Pak is the world's leading food processing and packaging company. We work closely with our customers and suppliers to deliver safe, innovative and environmentally responsible products that each day meet the needs of hundreds of millions of people in more than 170 countries around the world. With more than 23,000 employees in more than 80 countries, we believe in responsible industrial leadership and a sustainable approach to the business. Our motto, "PROTECT THE GOOD ™," reflects our vision of producing safe and available food everywhere. tetrapak.com