“Who else is tired of Covid-19? Do you also notice that your brain switches off when the latest Covid-update is on the news? We have been flooded with figures, assumptions, rising and flattening curves, signs of hope, signs of fear. A combination of mental and physical fatigue has kicked in during the second half of 2020. Yet we will have to hang in there for a bit longer in 2021, as countries around the world are now starting to roll out their vaccination strategy.
So, how can we start 2021 with renewed energy, even if the pandemic isn’t over? How can we energize ourselves, our family members and organisations? What we have learned from the pandemic is that going back to basics can help us to cope and even thrive. Spending more time at home has taught us many things: combining work and family, caring more about our health, and valuing our connections with others, even digitally, are well worth it and deserve to be prioritized.
Today, more than ever before, health is our most precious gift. And this is reflected in the way we have been living and eating since the pandemic came along. We run or walk, or we go cycling and we also snack more than before the pandemic.”
3 Focus Points for Health & Wellness Snacks
IMMUNITY
Food and beverage products that deliver immune benefits are likely to see strong demand growth well beyond the coronavirus crisis.There are pleasant and tasty ways to include ingredients that support immunity in snacks. Natural immunity boosters are berries or honey. Think of vitamin C in a nutritional bar or in fruit pieces included in a trail mix, or echinacea incorporated into a gummy.
ENERGY
We are currently living in a world, where more than ever, consumers want their food and drink to have a little something extra about them. Not only supplements or invisible extracts but also certain fruits and vegetables are being flaunted for their energizing benefits. Ingredients that contribute to a better energy level include: citrus fruits, coffee and tropical fruits like guava, kiwi or mango.
MENTAL HEALTH
Since the pandemic more people suffer from depression, anxiety, stress and insomnia. Consumers are looking for food that boosts mood and promotes mental wellbeing. Relaxing ingredients include tea, herbs like mint and rosemary, spices like pepper or cinnamon an botanicals like lavender.
Recent Food Trends & Technologies 