Back at It

For more information on our 2021 Diet Trends concepts, ingredient solutions, and insights, contact us.

Back at It

However, as the realization set in that this could be the new normal for quite some time, we started to see people get back at it. Diets began to rise again, and working out at home became a fun new challenge that many were willing to accept.

New diets that have emerged victorious this year include²: 

• Intermittent fasting
• The ketogenic diet
• The flexitarian lifestyle

To find solutions for these popular diet trends, it is crucial to understand who is following them, how they work, and why they’ve become so popular. We will walk you through each of these important diet trends, provide valuable insight into the consumer and their needs, and show new product concepts that solve those needs.

References: Source: 1. The Hartman Group, Inc. Covid-19’s Impact on Eating. 2020. 2. The Hartman Group, Inc. 3. Mintel. Nutrition Watch: Low Carb. May 2020

Intermittent Fasting

Our Take

Intermittent fasting is a rapidly growing diet trend in the US with no signs of slowing down. It’s trendy, it’s effective, and most importantly, it’s seen as a healthy and sustainable lifestyle change. Exploring new ways to assist those who have adopted this eating approach to reach their goals and provide them with options that can help replenish some of the nutrient loss during fasting times can give brands a unique relationship with this growing consumer group.

What is it?

It’s a diet that has increased in popularity over the last few years, focusing on regularly switching between periods of eating and periods of severe caloric reduction or fasting. This diet focuses more on when you eat rather than what you eat, although it is encouraged to make healthy, well-balanced food choices during your eating periods. Zero-calorie beverages are permissible during fasting times, so coffee drinkers rejoice! 

There are multiple ways to approach an intermittent fasting diet, including the following¹: 

• The 16/8 Method: Fast for 16 hours each day - also called the 7/11 method in which you eat nothing between 7 pm and 11 am every day
• The 5:2 Diet: Fast for two days per week
• Eat-Stop-Eat: Do a 24-hour fast once or twice a week
• Alternate-day Fasting: Fast every other day
• The Warrior Diet: Fast during the day, eat a massive meal at night
• Spontaneous Meal Skipping: Skip meals when convenient

Who is it for?

It’s for adults with the willpower to do it, especially those that are looking to lose weight and increase cognitive function.²

What are the Benefits?

Proponents of intermittent fasting claim the benefits include²:

• Weight Loss
• Thinking and Memory Benefits
• Heart Health
• Increased Physical Performance
• Tissue Health.

How does it work?

Fasting helps regulate insulin, which is the hormone correlated with weight gain and fat storage. When the body goes without food for a prolonged time, it runs out of sugar to burn and starts burning fat.²

Supporting Insights

• According to Google Trends Year in Search 2019 review, intermittent fasting was the top diet trend searched for in 2019. Fasting for dietary purposes is nothing new, but intermittent fasting has recently gained attention and curiosity, due in part to its popularity with celebrities.³ 
• 35% of consumers view intermittent fasting as very or somewhat healthy.³
• Those who fast tend to complain most about a lack of energy.⁴
• After reducing carbs (think Keto) and dairy elimination (think flexitarian), intermittent fasting is the most common type of eating approach in the US in 2019.⁵

References: 1. Healthline Online. 6 Ways to Do Intermittent Fasting. 2020. 2. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Intermittent Fasting: What is it, and how does it work? 2020. 3. Mintel. Consumer Approach to Nutrition. US January 2020. 4. Mintel. Dive into the latest diet trends. September 2019. 5. The Hartman Group, Inc. Food Culture Forecast: Tapping Into Personalized Nutrition. September 2019.

Intermittent Fasting Concept 1

Fast Asleep High Protein Cookies

Glanbia Nutritionals Ingredients 

• BarPro^® 291: A partially hydrolyzed milk protein isolate with enhanced functional characteristics designed for extending the shelf life of nutrition bars. Its unique combination of milk proteins and peptides minimizes bar hardening.
• Crunchie™ Milk Protein Crisps: High protein crisps made with milk protein and rice starch delivering superior texture and flavor to enhance texture and crunch in food applications.
• OatPure™ Jumbo Oats: De-hulled, heat-treated oat groats which are steamed and flaked, o.ering good grain integrity. They are more robust, less likely to crumble in an application, and have better adhesion and binding properties than regular oat flakes.
• PepForm^® Tryptophan: A sleep aid with proven next day cognitive benefits that helps promote the body’s natural melatonin without the addition of hormones, in a more soluble and bioavailable way. Pepform Tryptophan uses our PepForm® technology, which binds free-form amino acids to peptides isolated from whey resulting in significant improvement to the solubility and utilization of amino acids.
• OptiSol^® 3000: A patent-pending ingredient for use in egg replacement. OptiSol 3000 is intended to be used as an ingredient in baked goods. As such, it is not considered ready-to-eat.. 
•   Natural Flavors

Inspiration

Fight the midnight snack craving with a high protein cookie before bed that helps keep you fuller, longer. Extra perk: the tryptophan aids in a night of restful sleep so that you can wake up feeling rested and ready to start your day! Even if you can’t eat for another 8 hours…

Key Benefits

• 10 grams of protein per serving
• Tryptophan has been proven to calm the nervous system, promoting a more restful sleep
• Shelf-stable soft-baked cookie
• Superior texture and flavor

Ingredients 

Wheat Flour, Vegetable Fat, Brown Sugar, Chocolate Chips (sugar, chocolate, cocoa butter, milkfat, soy lecithin, natural flavors), BarPro^® 291 (partially hydrolyzed milk protein isolate), Crunchie™ Milk Protein Crisps (milk protein concentrate, rice starch), Soluble Tapioca Fiber, OatPure™ Jumbo Oats (gluten-free oats), Vegetable Glycerine, PepForm^® Tryptophan Peptides (whey peptides, L-tryptophan), OptiSol^® 3000 (milled flaxseed, whey protein concentrate), Natural Flavors, Sunflower Lecithin, Salt, Baking Soda, Sucralose. Allergen Information: Contains milk, soy, and wheat ingredients

Intermittent Fasting Concept 2

Break-the-Fast Sea Salt Caramel Chocolate Crisp Bar

Glanbia Nutritionals Ingredients 

• BarPro^® 291: A partially hydrolyzed milk protein isolate with enhanced functional characteristics designed for extending the shelf life of nutrition bars. Its unique combination of milk proteins and peptides minimizes bar hardening.
• Crunchie™ Milk Protein Crisps: High protein crisps made with milk protein and rice starch delivering superior texture and flavor to enhance texture and crunch in food applications.
• OatPure™ Jumbo Oats: De-hulled, heat-treated oat groats which are steamed and flaked, offering good grain integrity. They are more robust, less likely to crumble in an application, and have better adhesion and binding properties than regular oat flakes.
• PepForm^® Tryptophan: A sleep aid with proven next day cognitive benefits that helps promote the body’s natural melatonin without the addition of hormones, in a more soluble and bioavailable way. Pepform Tryptophan uses our PepForm® technology, which binds free-form amino acids to peptides isolated from whey resulting in significant improvement to the solubility and utilization of amino acids.
• OptiSol^® 3000: A patent-pending ingredient for use in egg replacement. OptiSol 3000 is intended to be used as an ingredient in baked goods. As such, it is not considered ready-to-eat.
•  Natural Flavors

Inspiration 

After a long fast, it can be tempting to eat anything in your path. However, intermittent fasting is most effective when healthy, well-balanced food is consumed during your periods of eating.¹ Providing some sweet relief that is still packed with good stuff is a great way to help curb those cravings without breaking the rules.

Reference: 1. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Intermittent Fasting: What is it, and how does it work? Retrieved September 2020.

Key Benefits

• 20 grams of protein per serving
• Low sugar
• 11 grams of fiber
• Clean flavor, crunchy texture, fun visual!

Ingredients

Dark Chocolate Coating (maltitol, palm kernel oil, whey protein isolate, cocoa powder, soy lecithin [an emulsifier]), Crunchie™ Milk Protein Crisps (milk protein concentrate, rice starch), Soluble Corn Fiber, BarFlex^® 191 (partially hydrolyzed whey protein isolate), Chicory Root Fiber, Protein Caramel (sugar, corn syrup, BevWise^® I-300W [whey protein isolate, phosphoric acid], water, butter, salt), Vegetable Glycerine, Tapioca Syrup, Cocoa Powder, BarPro^® 585 (milk protein isolate), Natural Flavors, EdiSparklz™ Edible Glitter (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, propylene glycol, mica-based pigment, yellow 5, red 40, yellow 6, blue 1), Sea Salt, Stevia. Allergen Information: Contains milk and soy ingredients

For more information on our Intermittent Fasting concepts, ingredient solutions, and insights, watch our video below or contact us.

The Ketogenic Diet

Our Take

Keto has been all the rage over the last few years but has lost a bit of traction to new rivals such as intermittent fasting and the rise of the flexitarian diet. While its popularity has slowed a bit, it remains one of the top diets in the US, with many viewing it as an accessible and easy diet to follow. A good old fashioned low carb, high-fat diet will always appeal to some consumers who can’t bear the thought of giving up their comfort foods like meat and cheese (did we mention we get it? cheese is incredible). Finding ways to help them do this in a more nutritious, convenient, and delicious way will help brands connect with this consistent consumer group.

What is it?

The Ketogenic diet, or Keto diet, focuses on a high-fat, low-carb diet while also concentrating on providing adequate protein. Those following the Keto diet are challenged to eat less than 50 grams of carbs per day or eat a diet that is about 70% fat, 20% protein, and 5% simple carbs and non-starchy veggies.

Who is it for?

The Keto diet is an excellent fit for consumers interested in a weight loss regimen rather than a long- term lifestyle change. This diet tends to be most popular with the Gen X crowd.¹ There are different ways to approach the Ketogenic Diet, including²:

• The standard ketogenic diet (SKD) is a very low-carb, moderate-protein, and high-fat diet. It typically contains 75% fat, 20% protein, and only 5% carbs. This approach is the most standard version, the most recommended, and the most researched.
• The cyclical ketogenic diet (CKD) involves periods of higher-carb refeeds, such as 5 ketogenic days followed by 2 high-carb days.
• The targeted ketogenic diet (TKD) allows you to add carbs around workouts.
• The high-protein ketogenic diet is similar to a standard ketogenic diet but includes more protein. The ratio is often 60% fat, 35% protein, and 5% carbs.

What are the Benefits?

The most widely accepted benefit of the Keto diet is weight loss. 

How does it work?

When you severely cut back on carbs, your body does not have enough glucose for energy, so the body burns fats and proteins instead. When your body starts burning fat and protein rather than glucose, it goes into “ketosis”, hence the Ketogenic diet. During ketosis, your body breaks down fat and protein for energy and results in weight loss.

Supporting Insights

• Since 2018, sports nutrition & supplement product launches with a Keto indication on pack have more than doubled.³
• 12% of consumers have tried a low carb diet over the past 12 months, with Gen X-ers the most interested in this type of diet.⁴ 
• In the US, 56% of consumers who are limiting their sugar intake are doing so because of future health concerns.⁵
• 18% of US consumers are interested in following the Ketogenic diet.⁶
• “The high-fat content of the keto diet is one element of its popularity. Full-fat, more indulgent foods made with ingredients like cheese or cream allow consumers to treat themselves without compromising their weight management e.orts.”⁷
• 1/3 US consumers indicate that ketogenic is an important feature when choosing sports nutrition products.⁸ 

References: 1. The Hartman Group, Inc. Food Culture Forecast: Tapping Into Personalized Nutrition. September 2019. 2. Healthline Online. The Ketogenic Diet: A Detailed Beginner’s Guide to Keto. 2020. 3. Innova database, November 2020. 4. The Hartman Group Inc. Food Culture Forecast 2019. 5. Mintel. Nutrition Watch: Low Carb. May 2020. 6. Mintel. A year of innovation in meal replacement drinks. February 2020. 7. Mintel. Keto diet can shape dairy NPD. September 2019.

Keto Concept 1

Keto Grass Fed Tahitian Vanilla RTM 

Glanbia Nutritionals Ingredients 

• All N™ Keto Grass-Fed Blend: A blend specially designed to deliver nutrients essential to support the Ketogenic diet featuring:
  • Truly Grass Fed^® Whey Protein - A source of 100% grass-fed whey protein containing levels of immune-boosting bioactive compounds.
  • BevFlax™ XtraSmooth - A source of protein, fiber, and ALA Omega-3 with excellent stability and a smooth mouthfeel.
  • CarbOUT^® Flavor - Natural flavor and masker system that improves flavor and masks protein and fat off-notes while reducing carbs 50-100% and increasing protein 10+%.
•  Natural Flavors

Inspiration 

Keto-friendly product launches are still on the rise, and consumers embrace the fact that previously off- limits food choices like full-fat foods, especially dairy and more specifically grass-fed products, are now encouraged¹ allowing brands to stand out with sourcing claims.

Reference: 1. Mintel. Keto diet can shape dairy NPD. September 2019.

Key Benefits

• Grass-fed
• High in fat
• 11 grams of protein per serving

Ingredients

All N™ Keto Grass-Fed Blend (whey protein isolate, MCT oil powder [MCT oil, gum acacia], milled flaxseed, natural flavor, lecithin), Natural Flavors, Gum Blend (guar gum, gum acacia, xanthan gum), Salt, Stevia Leaf Extract, Monk Fruit Extract. Allergen Information: Contains milk ingredients

Keto Concept 2

The Keto Shake

Glanbia Nutritionals Ingredients 

• Optisol^® 1007: A superior heat stabilizing whey protein concentrate for cleaner label neutral pH beverages.

Inspiration

This is basically Keto in a shake, and convenience is still a massive focus for consumers. Knowing that a product will provide a quick nutritional solution for their day is top of mind, and a delicious ready-to-drink shake is an excellent way for the Keto dieter to get the nutrients they need no matter where their day is taking them!

Key Benefits

• 75% fat, 20% protein, and 5% carbohydrates ratio
• Clean Label
• No added sugars

Ingredients

Water, OptiSol^® 1007 (concentrated whey protein), High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Cocoa (processed with alkali), MCTs, Gellan Gum, Carrageenan, Salt, Stevia, Monk Fruit Extract. Allergen Information: Contains milk and sunflower oil

Keto Concept 3

Keto On-the-Go Keto Mini Bars

Glanbia Nutritionals Ingredients

• BarFlex^® 192: A premium, non-fat whey protein isolate derived from sweet dairy whey. The whey proteins have been extracted in a highly purified, undenatured form using membrane technology. BarFlex 192 is uniquely designed to provide improved functionality in nutrition bars and protein-fortified cereal and granola bars.
•  Natural Flavors

Inspiration 

Consumers continue to seek smaller, more portable on-the-go options. This trend is affecting both retail and foodservice innovation this year.¹ Portion control as a weight management tool is also expected to increase in popularity as maintaining a healthy weight continues to be a focus on how to live a healthy lifestyle. Products with perceived weight management benefits continue to gain traction.²

References: 1. Food Business News, Slideshow: Bite-size is big in food innovation, 2020. 2. Food Business News, Weight management may help against the worst of COVID-19, 2020

Key Benefits

• 73% calories from fat
• 20% calories from protein
• Only 2 net carbs
• 15 grams of protein

Ingredients

Peanuts, Palm Kernel Oil, Dark Chocolate Confectionery Coating (maltitol, palm kernel oil, whey protein isolate, cocoa powder [processed with alkali], soy lecithin), BarFlex^® 192 (whey protein isolate), Natural Flavors, Salt. Allergen Information: Contains milk, soy, peanuts ingredients

For more information on our Keto Diet concepts, ingredient solutions, and insights, watch our video below or contact us.

The Flexitarian Diet

Our Take

The flexitarian diet is one that spans generations within a family and continues to grow in popularity. Where most diets are only appropriate for adults, parents following a flexitarian diet are happy to involve their kids in the diet. When their kids are still very young, parents are looking to provide their kids with more plant-powered nutrition. This gives brands an excellent opportunity to appeal to the flexitarian parent and get kids in at an early age! Brands can integrate flexitarian products into their portfolio creatively, using more plant nutrition in their portfolio without giving up animal-based products entirely (think ½ dairy, ½ plant products.)

What is it?

Someone who follows a flexitarian diet simply tries to limit their meat intake.¹ The reasons why flexitarians reduce their meat intake vary from health reasons to environmental and animal welfare to the desire to eat a more plant-focused diet.² Flexitarians are not vegetarians or vegans. They still eat animal products, but they actively try to find ways to reduce their intake of animal-based products and often lean towards foods traditionally marketed to vegetarians or vegans.

Who is it for?

The flexitarian diet focuses on a more holistic approach to health. While weight loss is cited as a benefit to the flexitarian diet, other benefits to the diet are also significant drivers behind its popularity, including animal and environmental welfare.²

What are the Benefits?

Benefits of the flexitarian diet range from health to environmental, with proponents citing the following³:

• Weight Loss
• Heart Health Benefits
• Extended Lifespan
• Better for the Environment
• Easy to Follow/Less Restrictive Than Vegan/Vegetarian
• Sustainable for Long Term Results

How does it work?

The flexitarian diet focuses on eating a more balanced diet and finding ways to incorporate more plant-based options into your everyday routine. Flexitarians focus on what to include in their diet rather than focusing on what to restrict, making it popular among those seeking a more holistic approach to their health. It follows the below guidelines:

• Eat mostly fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.
• Focus on protein from plants instead of animals.
• Be flexible and incorporate meat and animal products from time to time.
• Eat the least processed, most natural form of foods.
• Limit added sugar and sweets.³

Supporting Insights

• The majority of consumers identify as either carnivores or flexitarians, with 48% of US consumers identifying as carnivores and 21% identifying as flexitarian.⁴
• 2 out of 10 Americans and Canadians claim to be following a flexitarian diet approach.²
• 34% of UK parents prefer baby/toddler food with a vegetarian protein source (e.g., ancient grains, seeds, pulses) to those with meat.⁵
• Of those that identify as flexitarian, 57% were women, showing that women are slightly more likely to identify as flexitarian than men.⁶

References: 1. 1. Source: The Hartman Group Inc. Food + Technology 2019: From Plant-Based to Lab-Grown, June 2019. 2. Mintel. Cater to the “why” behind flexitarian eating. November 2019. 3. Healthline Online. The Flexitarian Diet: A Detailed Beginner’s Guide. Retrieved September
2020. 4. Mintel, Plant-based Proteins, Sept 2019; Base: 2,000 internet users aged 18+. 5. Mintel. Flexitarian parents look for more plant-based baby food. March 2020. 6. Mintel. Plant-based Proteins. September 2019

Flexitarian Concept 1

Plant Based Mayan Chocolate Bar
 

Glanbia Nutritionals Ingredients

• BarHarvest™ 800: A partially hydrolyzed pea protein with a clean flavor developed to increase chewiness, moistness, and soft texture in bars, snacks, and baked products.
• CapsiAtra^®: A Dihydrocapsiate similar to the red pepper compound capsaicin, providing similar health benefits as capsaicin but without the adverse side effects like pungency.
•  Natural Flavors

Inspiration 

This vegan bar not only offers the plant-forward option flexitarians crave but gives an added weight management benefit! Capsiatra^® is proven to increase metabolism for weight management¹, and weight management is still an important reason for choosing the flexitarian diet².

Reference: 1. Inoue et al, Biosci Biotechnol Biochem.2007Feb;71(2):380-9. 2. Mintel. Cater to the “why” behind flexitarian eating. November 2019.

Key Benefits

• 16 grams of plant-based protein per serving
• 12 grams of fiber and only 1 gram of sugar
• Gluten-free

Ingredients

BarHarvest™ 800 (partially hydrolyzed pea protein), Soluble Corn Fiber, Almonds, Chicory Root Fiber, Vegetable Glycerine, Canola Oil, Cocoa Powder (processed with alkali), Natural Flavors, Cinnamon, Salt, CapsiAtra^® (beta cyclodextrin, CH19 sweet peppers), Steviol Glycosides. Allergen Information: Contains tree nuts

Flexitarian Concept 2

Clean Label Plant Based Kefir 

Glanbia Nutritionals Ingredients 

• HarvestPro™ Pea XtraSmooth: A clean labeled vegetable protein isolate extracted from yellow peas for use in beverages, baked goods, crisps, bars, cereals, and clusters.
• BevOat™: A very finely milled whole grain gluten-free oat flour that has been heat treated.
•  Natural Flavors

Inspiration 

Kefir offers consumers a new way to get the probiotics they want, and proponents of kefir claim it brings with it benefits for mood, gut, and immunity.¹ For those trying to follow a more flexitarian lifestyle, plant-based kefir can offer some of the same benefits as dairy kefir while still taking a plant-forward approach.

Reference: 1. Mintel. What’s next for fermented foods? September 2020

Key Benefits

• The same richness and flavor as a dairy-based yogurt
• Clean label
• 8 grams of plant-based protein per serving

Ingredients 

Water, Sugar, HarvestPro™ Pea XtraSmooth (pea protein), BevOat™ (oat flour), Natural Flavors, Pectin Live and Active Cultures. Allergen Information: Contains no known allergens

Flexitarian Concept 3

Plant Forward Cereal Bar for Toddlers 

Glanbia Nutritionals Ingredients 

• TruCal^® D7: Much more than just calcium, TruCal is a balanced source of natural milk minerals scientifically shown to support optimal bone health.
• OatPure™ Gluten Free Jumbo Oat Flakes: De-hulled, heat-treated oat groats which are steamed and flaked, offering good grain integrity. They are more robust, less likely to crumble in the application, and have better adhesion and binding properties than regular oat flakes.
• BevChia^®: An all-natural specially milled white chia seed that has been heat-treated using our MicroSure™ Plus process. This treatment involves a minimum of 5-log validation kill step and results in the safest chia in the industry.
• CuisineFlax™ Binder: An all-natural, specially milled low-fat flax meal that is light in color. This milled flax is a raw food product and has not been heat-treated or processed to treat it for organisms of public health significance.

Inspiration 

Figuring out a way to incorporate more nutrition into your kid’s diet, especially if that kid happens to be a toddler, is a well-known pain point for most parents. An easy-to-eat, convenient bar packed with the good stuff is a welcome solution for parents who need a quick, healthy fix for their kiddos!

Key Benefits

• Plant forward
• Convenient format
• Packed with vitamins & minerals

Ingredients 

Strawberry Filling (cane syrup, brown rice syrup, apple powder, rice starch, strawberries, dried cane syrup, strawberry type flavor, glycerin, pectin, water, citric acid, red cabbage extract for color), Whole Wheat Flour, All-Purpose Wheat Flour, Milk, Brown Sugar, Butter, Canola Oil, Water, Children’s Bone Premix (Milk Calcium [TruCal^® D7], Ascorbic Acid, Maltodextrin, Vitamin E, Vitamin D3, Vitamin K2), OatPure™ Gluten Free Jumbo Oat Flakes, Wheat Bran, BevChia^® White, Glycerin, Vanilla, Baking Powder, Salt, CuisineFlax™ Binder, Cinnamon. Allergen Information: Contains milk and wheat ingredients

For more information on our Flexitarian Diet concepts, ingredient solutions, and insights, contact us.