According to the “Shopping for Health 2016” report from the Food Marketing Institute and Rodale, a product’s healthfulness for children influences 91 percent of parents’ food and beverage purchases. Taste, however, reigns and influences 95 percent of purchase decisions.
Kid-focused Products
Sprout Foods Inc., the manufacturer of the first organic baby food in a pouch, introduces Sprout Organic Smash, a pureed squeezable pouch snack for kids’ lunch boxes. The product comes in a four-pack box of 3.2-oz. easy-serve pouches and comes in two blends, each offering two flavors. The Fruit & Super Grain blend, which includes buckwheat, oats and quinoa, comes in Amazin’ Apple Raisin and Tropical Twist. The Fruit & Veggie blend comes in Berry Blast and Very Banana Berry.
“Fizz for kidz” is the tagline of new Tickle Water, a line of naturally flavored, unsweetened sparkling waters for children developed by a New York City mom, whose young son liked how her sparkling water tickled his tummy. The zero-calorie drinks come in four flavors: Cola, Green Apple, Sparkling Water and Watermelon. Labels list two simple ingredients: carbonated water and natural flavors. The drinks come in 8-oz. cans that fit little hands. Parents can purchase the cans in four- and 12-packs.
General Mills Inc.’s Annie’s Homegrown organic brand continues to grow and expand into new categories, including baking mixes, breakfast cereal, chewy granola bars, frozen sandwiches, pancake/waffle mix, popcorn and refrigerated dough. The frozen sandwiches include Pea B&J Pockets, which are stuffed crustless sandwiches made of golden pea butter (not peanut butter) and jelly (grape or strawberry). The refrigerated dough line includes cinnamon rolls, crescent rolls and flaky biscuits.