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.