Alexa Bosshardt MPS, RDN

Alexa Bosshardt, MPS, RDN, is a research chef and hands-on industry consultant who has devoted most of her career to providing recipe formulation and nutritional marketing services to food and beverage manufacturers and restaurant chains. With a culinary degree from Johnson & Wales, and multiple degrees from Cornell University, Bosshardt has enjoyed more than three decades of teaching ServSafe and Culinary Nutrition courses, as well as corporate wellness classes. She currently consults for a number of food companies. Read more of her articles on the sweet things in life at www.preparedfoods.com. She can be reached at alexa@fitculinary.com.

Sweet Times: New Trends in Sweeteners

Science is helping product developers hit the sugar-reduction sweet spot

Alexa Bosshardt MPS, RDN

April 25, 2022

2 Comments

An emerging trend in the world of sweetness is that of “natural browns.” These predominantly nutritive sweeteners include organic and raw sugars that are less processed and align with health- and eco-friendly concerns as perceived by consumers.

Studying the Art and Science of Sugar Reduction Ingredients

Hitting the Sweet Spot: The perception of sweetness for a sweetener relies on how it works in formulation, how it is metabolized in the mouth, and how it binds with receptors on the tongue

Alexa Bosshardt MPS, RDN

January 11, 2022

No Comments

Here are some tips and insights into using the currently popular sugar-reduction ingredients that can help processors hit the sweet spot bullseye.

2022 PREDICTIONS | SWEETENERS

Consumer Demand Continues to Drive Sugar Reduction

Sugar Drop: Processors and ingredient technologists are getting creative in meeting consumer demands to cut sugar

Alexa Bosshardt MPS, RDN

January 4, 2022

3 Comments

The drive to reduce sugar derives from two consumer demands: lower calories and "healthier" (read: no empty calories) ingredients.

A Brief Review of Sweetener Options Varieties

Among the nutritive sweetener, trending sources include syrups from maple, sorghum, corn, and malted grains

Alexa Bosshardt MPS, RDN

May 5, 2021

No Comments

The rapidly expanding array of sweetener options merits a look at the best uses, applications, and formats whether considering them solely for flavor and performance or with an eye on reduction of nutritive sugars. Among the nutritive sweetener, trending sources include syrups from maple, sorghum, corn, and malted grains.

Low and Sweet: Sugar Reduction is Keeping it Real

With consumers continuing to pursue more healthy alternatives to indulgences, counting calories from sugar has taken off

Alexa Bosshardt MPS, RDN

February 12, 2021

No Comments

Consumers' continued pursuit of more healthy alternatives to their favorite indulgences has led to a rise in the use of natural high-intensity sweeteners, ultra-low-calorie 1:1 drop-in sweeteners, and natural sweetness enhancers.

2021 Predictions: SWEETENERS

Sweeter Times Coming

The search for sweetness is only natural.

Alexa Bosshardt MPS, RDN

November 30, 2020

No Comments

Consumer commitment to reduce sugar consumption continues to drive industry opportunities to develop non-nutritive sweeteners that perform and taste like table sugar. Blending nutritive sweeteners with high-intensity sweeteners (HIS) has become the standard, with stevia being the common go-to, typically in blends with everything from corn-derived sucrose or dextrose to maltose or tapioca sugar, or recent arrivals like coconut sugar.

Sweetener Blends Continue to Expand and Become More Nuanced

The Sweet Life: What does the sweetener landscape look like as we enter the third decade of the 21st century?

Alexa Bosshardt MPS, RDN

May 13, 2020

No Comments

The 2019 International Food Information Council (IFIC) Food and Health Survey reported that limiting or reducing sugar in the diet, along with eating more fruits and vegetables, topped the dietary changes consumers were making.

2020 PREDICTIONS: SWEETENERS

Trends in Sweeteners

The ongoing trend for sweet success continues

Alexa Bosshardt MPS, RDN

December 12, 2019

No Comments

Breakthroughs in ingredient technology have produced a number of new sweetener systems and custom proprietary blends.

New Approaches to Diabetes

Addressing the needs of the millions of people with blood sugar disorders.

Alexa Bosshardt MPS, RDN

August 27, 2019

No Comments

According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 30 million Americans — nearly 10% of the entire population — are living with diabetes, and perhaps as many as 85 million more are living with prediabetes.

The Sweet Life

Satisfy that craving for something sweet

Alexa Bosshardt MPS, RDN

May 29, 2019

No Comments

The drive to satisfy the sweet tooth of the American consumer seems to become more complicated and confusing every year. The realities of the obesity epidemic create a divide that nearly every consumer confronts on a daily basis.

The Sweet Life! Sugar Reduction Trends & Technologies for 2022 and Beyond

Mintel research shows that nearly three in five consumers are choosing low-sugar products for their general health and more consumers are seeking natural alternatives. Where are white space opportunities involving sugar reduction? What new technologies present opportunities and challenges ahead? To address these questions, Prepared Foods brings food formulators this exclusive, one-hour thought leadership webinar.

Enzymes Offer Numerous Sugar Modification Benefits for Starch-Based Foods From Added Sweetness to Extended Shelf Life, and More

Specialty enzymes are mighty molecules that enable food producers to often make dramatic improvements in their products without having to add multiple ingredients. Amano Enzyme, with over a century of experience developing enzymes for the food industry, recently introduced a trio of enzymes to aid in modifying sugar in starch-based foods.

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Alexa Bosshardt MPS, RDN

ARTICLES

Sweet Times: New Trends in Sweeteners

Studying the Art and Science of Sugar Reduction Ingredients

Consumer Demand Continues to Drive Sugar Reduction

A Brief Review of Sweetener Options Varieties

Low and Sweet: Sugar Reduction is Keeping it Real

Sweeter Times Coming

Sweetener Blends Continue to Expand and Become More Nuanced

Trends in Sweeteners

New Approaches to Diabetes

The Sweet Life

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