Unboxed: 10 flavorful, nutrient-dense products for kids
Although parents and caretakers purchase children’s foods, the youngsters shouldn’t be left out when it comes to flavor and quality. These 10 brands deliver both.
Baby Spice's Bean Bowl
Another brand that debuted at Expo East, Globowl is making flavorful baby and toddler food that introduces little ones to diverse flavors and new cultures. Globowl aims to start young ones off as adventurous eaters from the get-go. And it's not just another glass jar of pureed mush, either. You can see the whole foods and ingredients that make up each flavorful SKU.
Mini Cans – Fruit Punch
GoodPop's mini cans give kids a fun beverage that isn't loaded with added sugars. Non-GMO Project Verified and free from artificial flavors, these cans are filled with real fruit juice and sparkling water, giving all the fun of sodas or refreshing juice boxes without the sugar.
Strawberry Fridge Fresh Bars
A new brand, Happy Wolf debuted at Expo East and took home the NEXTY Award for Best New Special Diet Food. Happy Wolf makes bars that are gluten free, free of the top 9 allergens, organic, non-GMO and Clean Label Project certified. Refrigeration keeps them fresh, allowing Happy Wolf to skip the preservatives found in many kids' snack bars today. Packed with seed butter to keep little ones full and sweetened with dates and honey, the bars use few and simple ingredients. The brand's apple cinammon flavor won this year's NEXTY Award for Best New Special Diet Food.
Beets, Fennel & Kale Squeeze Pouch
Kekoa is committed to giving little ones USDA-Organic Certified pouches in a variety of exciting flavors. No boring simple plain fruit flavors here: Kekoa uses a blend of red beets, savory fennel, nutrient-dense kale, leeks and black beans for protein. Each pouch also incorporates herbs and spices to enhance flavor and provide optimum health benefits. Basil and a hint of cumin bring essential nutrients and help broaden children’s palates. Be sure to also check out their Shawarma Artichoke and Cauliflower SKU, which was a NEXTY Award finalist for Best New Plant-Focused Product this year.
Sweet Potato Curry
Lil'gourmets creates veggie-focused meals inspired by different global cuisines. The brand does not shy away from complex flavors in hopes that kids become curious about where these flavors came from. This USDA Organic Certified Sweet Potato Curry is made with spinach, sweet potatoes, coconut milk, lemon, lime and a spice blend of cumin, cinnamon, turmeric and coriander. These ingredients contain potassium, vitamins and beta-carotene, key nutrients for eye and brain health. At Expo East, the brand debuted its new packaging—changing to pouches from bowls—making the meals more convenient.
Natural Goat Milk Toddler Milk
Long popular in other countries, Little Oak introduces American consumers to goat milk as an alternative to cow-based formula. From New Zealand, Little Oak uses fresh goat milk that is heated only once to make its formula, unlike conventional formulas, which are heated and treated several times, which dilutes the nutritional qualities. Little Oak also stays away from palm and canola oil, using cold-pressed flaxseed oil instead, and includes 16 essential vitamins and minerals that support toddler's growth and development.
Cherry and Beetroot Wafers
One Bitey's wafer snacks are made with no refined sugar, artificial colors or preservatives. These snacks are lactose free and vegan, made with wheat, rice, chickpea flour, date powder, coconut oil, and fruits and vegetables. Beets and cherries give the filling its color, and the wafers get their golden color from seaweed chlorophyll. These are great on-the-go snacks with no GMOs or palm oil, packaged in compostable wrappers.
Goat Milk-Based Toddler Formula
More goat milk is coming stateside! Kabrita crafts its formula in the Netherlands with non-GMO ingredients and goat milk that is mild in taste and high in nutrients. Goat milk is touted as being more nutritious than cow's milk and higher in protein, calcium, vitamins, minerals and fats. Goat milk contains caseins, whey proteins and immunoglobulins, which may alleviate chronic inflammatory symptoms from conditions like asthma and allergies.
Cheddar Pop Mmms Veggie Flour Baked Snack Crackers
Baked and cheesy, kids and adults will want to gobble down these treats by the handful. Simple Mills is working to create snacks that support agriculture systems and sustainability. Pop Mmms use a mix of red beans and butternut squash, which add nutrients to the soil and protect the soil, respectively. Also made with arrowroot, the crackers are Certified Gluten-Free and baked, not fried. The cheesy snacks are also grain-free, corn-free, gum-free and Non-GMO Project Verified. This product was a finalist for the Best New Planet-Forward Product NEXTY Award this fall.
Grain-Free Puffs – Cheddar and Cauliflower Spinach
Serenity Kids' newest SKU packs the flavor and nutrients. Spinach and cauliflower are front and center, even illustrated on the packaging. Serenity Kids celebrates plants and gives kids colorful options. Unlike many conventional puffs, these USDA Organic snacks are made from cassava, which means they are free of rice and gluten. The puffs also have no added sugar and are made with olive oil for healthy fats.
Grain-Free Puffs – Cheddar and Cauliflower Spinach
Serenity Kids' newest SKU packs the flavor and nutrients. Spinach and cauliflower are front and center, even illustrated on the packaging. Serenity Kids celebrates plants and gives kids colorful options. Unlike many conventional puffs, these USDA Organic snacks are made from cassava, which means they are free of rice and gluten. The puffs also have no added sugar and are made with olive oil for healthy fats.
In a world dominated by convenience and processed indulgences, the pursuit of healthier eating habits for children has become an increasingly crucial endeavor. Parents want to expose young children to a wider variety of foods to help start their journeys as lifelong adventurous eaters.
The natural food industry is stepping up to the plate, presenting an array of products designed to introduce young palates to a kaleidoscope of flavors with unprocessed, whole-ingredient snacks that champion the cause of well-rounded nutrition and make mealtime a bit easier on the ones feeding them. Several Natural Products Expo East exhibitors debuted new children's brands, while familiar brands presented exciting new products.
Nurturing young palates
In the not-so-distant past, children's menus and snack options were often characterized by blandness and monotony. However, a refreshing change is taking place as innovative CPG brands in the natural food industry are spearheading a flavorful expedition into the realm of kids' cuisine. Parents are no longer limited to the conventional: Children are discovering a world beyond the mundane, fostering a love for diverse flavors from an early age.
These brands are using whole, nutrient-dense ingredients. Kids, as they grow and learn more about food, will be able to quickly identify and distinguish what goes into these product's simple ingredient lists.
Parents can now choose snacks are free from artificial additives, preservatives and refined sugars. This marks a pivotal moment in the quest for providing children with snacks that not only tantalize their taste buds but also nurture their growing bodies with the goodness of nature.
More veggies, less hiding
Consumers are looking to add more plants to their diets in both quantity and diversity of plants. No wonder they want to do the same for their kids as soon as possible. From plant-powered protein bars to veggie-packed crackers, these products seamlessly incorporate the benefits of fruits, vegetables and legumes into everyday snacks. This not only aligns with the broader environmental consciousness but also ensures that children are reaping the nutritional rewards of a diet rich in plant-derived goodness. Instead of hiding vegetables and masking them with other flavors, brands are putting them front and center.
The natural food industry is introducing an array of plant-based options to diversify children's diets and enhance their nutrient intake. Click through this gallery to discover products serving our youngest eaters.
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