It seems that parents aren’t the only ones anymore who are taking the eating habits of children seriously. The food manufacturing industry is showing that they have plans to try and keep up with the demand for healthy food choices for kids by offering new options both for those who cook at home as well as those who eat at restaurants.
Here are 5 food trends expected to continue to grow in popularity in 2016:
Brinner – Breakfast for Dinner
Recent surveys have shown that more and more Americans are eating breakfast for dinner on a regular basis. 67% of families with children are eating “brinner” at least once a month. Experts say this is because breakfast can be quick and easy to make and much more cost-effective. Restaurants seem to be following the trend by offering more breakfast food options in their dinner menus. Simply adding some veggies to some scrambled eggs is a great way to eat healthy and keep kids happy at dinner time.
Spiralized Veggies
Replacing high-calorie conventional pasta noodles with spiralized vegetables such as zucchini, beets and yellow squash has already become a popular trend in home cooking over the last few years. In 2016, you can expect to see veggie noodles in more store-bought foods and on restaurant menus. Not only does this significantly decrease the amount of calories children take in, but it’s a great way to sneak vegetables into their meals.
Muffin Meals
When it comes to eating healthy, it’s all about portion control. This is one reason why muffin pan meals have become such a popular choice for feeding kids. Mini-meals that can be prepared in muffin pans are just the right size for children and give parents and chefs better control of what kids are eating. While you may already incorporate muffin pan recipes at home, watch for them to become popular in 2016 in the frozen food aisle and in restaurants.
Do-It-Yourself Bowls
The ability to customize your meal by choosing your own layers of veggies, grains and protein has become very trendy over the last few years and will continue to grow in popularity according to food experts. We see more and more restaurants turning to this style of serving their food and are likely to see more options in the grocery store too. It’s surprising to see the healthy choices kids will make when they are allowed to choose what food goes into their dinner bowl.
Bite-Sized Food
Similar to muffin pan dinners, bite-sized foods are both convenient and allow for better portion control. They seem to be just as popular with adults as they are with children. Kids love them because they are easy to eat and they don’t take up an entire plate. Adults like the ability to cut down on calories. There are already some food manufacturers who have caught onto this trend, but watch for more bite-sized or food ball options in 2016.
A nutritious diet is key in keeping children healthy, happy and active. Unfortunately, no matter how well you feed your child, they can still get sick from time to time. Remember that AllKids Urgent Care is here to help when that happens. We are open late every day of the year to provide healthcare for your children when they need it.