It appears that many Americans have come to the conclusion that eating healthy snacks is the better way to go. Healthy snacks help prevent overeating, keep blood sugar levels stable, provide nutrients, and lower the risk for certain cancers and diseases. The shift in snack preferences has also been observed by executives in the New York food and beverage industry.

According to Anchin, Block & Anchin, an accounting firm in New York City, a 2017 poll found that 46 out of 80, or 56 percent, of industry executives questioned foresee healthy snacks at the top of the list for product category expected growth. With the increased availability of knowledge about how to stay healthy and the wide variety of healthy foods available, this projection is not unexpected.

The challenge will be to meet the demands for healthy choices. Not only do New York City residents and visitors look for healthy snacks when catching a flight, or traveling via the train or subway, but they also want to enjoy healthy snacks at their desk or between office meetings. On the surface, it may seem that the reason behind the demand for healthy snacks is same for everyone, but the reasons why an individual chooses a particular product is quite varied. Often the reason is a unique combination of factors related to the snacks’ packaging and the snack itself.

Packaging preferences typically fall into one of the following five categories:

• Transparent
  • easy to see item in packaging
  • upfront and straightforward about ingredients, including nutritional values
• Portable
  • easy to carry in a briefcase, backpack, or purse without damaging the snack or breaking the container
  • not too heavy
• Resealable
  • easy to repeatedly open and close
  • important if the snack is also to be portable
• Sustainable
  • made from biodegradable, recycled, recyclable, renewable sources
  • clearly marked disposable instructions on packaging   
• Contain information about the snack on the label
  • fair trade product or local sourcing
  • simple ingredients (claims and certifications) 

Snacks, on the other hand, must have enough variety to be consumed by a diverse group of individuals, and at the same time, meet a few basic requirements. How a product tastes is often the first criteria an individual uses to determine if they are going to eat something again. New York City consumers want to try products with innovative and global flavors. Ingredients should be fresh not processed and have a purpose. Snacks are often chosen because one or more of its ingredients is a source of energy like naturally occurring caffeine, protein, or complex carbohydrate, and or provides specific nutrients such as those from vegetables, superfoods, protein, or healthy fats.

A great way to help your New York City employees or students eat healthy is to include vending machines with healthy snacks and beverages in your office break room or school lunchroom. Healthy Vending offers a large selection of all-natural and organic products as well as different vending options that range from free vend to traditional vending to help meet your organization’s needs. For more information, contact us at 917.572.3671.

The increase in demand for healthy snacks is not only about which ingredients are in a snack; it is also about the ingredients that aren’t there. According to Mintel, a global market research firm, 84 percent of consumers want to reduce the amount of natural sugar and artificial sweetener in their diets. Participants indicated that weight management and future health concerns were the top reasons to cut sugar. In fact, 31 percent of participants agreed that removing sugar from their diet causes more weight loss than cutting out fat. Millennials or 18 to 34 year olds had additional concerns about sugar and its negative impact on dental health and the appearance of their skin.     

Decreasing the amount of sugar consumed has many more positive effects on a New York City individual’s health than the few previously mentioned. Some additional health benefits of eating less sugar are

• lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol (LDL) levels,
• decrease risk of fatty liver disease, diabetes, and heart attack,
• Lower chances of developing Alzheimer’s and dementia,
• improved cognitive function, memory, and responsiveness,
• increased energy levels.

Avoiding sugar isn’t always as easy as it sounds though. Sugar is frequently hidden in products that aren’t usually associated with sugar. It is also referred to by other names and found in many different forms including molasses, organic cane sugar, fruit juice concentrate, malt sugar, corn syrup, honey, syrup, and words ending in “ose” dextrose, lactose, maltose, fructose, glucose, and sucrose.

The following suggestions are a few ways that can help New York City employees and students choose healthy snacks and reduce sugar consumption:

• check the ingredient list for hidden sugar
• eat as close to natural as possible
• check the nutrition label to see how much sugar is actually in the product
• gradually lower your sugar intake
• eat more protein and healthy fats such as nuts, seeds, avocados, and olives
• drink naturally flavored seltzer water as an alternative to sugary beverages

The increase in demand for snacks and beverages with less sugar has led to new, easy-to-find, healthier choices including kombucha teas and drinking vinegars. Since New York City employees are looking for a wide variety of flavors and sweetness levels, there are many new opportunities to offer healthy snacks and beverages at all sweetness levels in the office break room.

Consider offering all of your New York City employees and students the chance to enjoy a healthy snack or beverage while at work or at school. Whether enjoying a can of flavored carbonated water or a healthy snack from the vending machine, there is an option for everyone. For more information about adding healthy snacks and beverages to your office break room or school lunchroom or updating your current vending machine options, call Healthy Vending at 917.572.3671.