It is not breaking news that people are concerned with eating healthy and staying in shape. Consumers today are looking for ways to lose or maintain weight, while still eating foods that taste good. Snacks are staples in consumers’ diets, but recently people have been looking for healthier options to munch on during the day. Due to the demand, many companies in recent years have launched snacks that claim to be healthy or provide nutritional value.

The trend has become most prominent in the area of nut and fruit snacks. Many of the newest innovations in the snacking area are coming in the form of nut crisps, fruit bars and cereals, pushing the health benefits of almonds, pistachios and walnuts. Nuts have high fiber and antioxidant content, and it is becoming commonplace for brands to include these ingredients in their snacks and emphasize the benefits. Yogurt is another area where there has been an increased growth in products that boast healthy snacking, focusing on the digestive benefits, as well as the great taste. Yogurt brands are increasingly attempting to position their products as alternatives to desserts with new flavors, like cinnamon roll and sugar cookie.

Made in Nature released Antioxidant Fusion Antioxidant Fruit Snack Mix. It is a new, organic dried fruit snack, rich in antioxidants with blueberries, raspberries, cranberries, raisins and goji berries. This product has been around for a few months, but the brand is pushing the healthy ingredients to show consumers the benefits of eating a fruit mix rather than salty, fatty chips.

Information in this column is from the Global New Products Database, the premier source of global product intelligence, published by Mintel International Group; 351 W. Hubbard, 8th Floor; Chicago, IL 60610; call: 312-932-0600; fax: 312-932-0474; or e-mail mhollihan@mintel.com.