Consumers Find Health In Nutritious Bars

Nutrition bars are a popular and healthy snack option, but what flavors are consumers really looking for?

It's nothing new that American consumers are embracing healthy snack options and good for you food products. And according to a recent report frommarket research publisher Packaged Facts called, "Nutritional and Cereal Bars in the U.S.", American snackers are finding healthy options in nutrition bars.

Nutritional bars are a simple, portable way for consumers to enjoy a healthy snack throughout the day, as well as becoming an attractive way for food marketers to offer bold, new flavors and ingredients and all while offering appealing health options like, organic, natural, super foods or gluten free. The report makes note that shopper tastes are constantly evolving and as many consumers are looking for ways to eat several smaller portions of food throughout the day, instead of 3 main meals, nutritional bars are becoming a way to indulge in more savory flavors, over sweet, like vegetable proteins and superfoods.  

In addition to the growing interest in regular consumers however, marketers still see athletes and fitness lovers as a prime target for nutritional bars, and their tastes too are shifting from sweet to savory. As a result, marketers are highlighting options that say, for example, can offer meat as a protein source. And the report goes on to note that consumers can expect to find more nutritional bars using vegetables as their protein source. Nutritional bars now on the market include carrots, sweet potatoes, kale, broccoli, spinach, quinoa, cauliflower, lentils, bell pepper and basil.

Supermarkets should take note of these changing flavor trends as well. From fitness buffs to regular consumers, the appeal of healthy snacking continues to grow amongst shoppers, and retailers should provide consumers with the flavors their looking for but also offer their shoppers tips and advice on healthy snack options and suggestions on targeted needs, like, for example, vegetables or meats for high protein options, or say, high fiber or low fat snack ideas.