At the beginning of every year, experts make their predictions about new products and trends that they foresee taking off in the near future. But COVID-19 changed everything. Consumers are eating at home more, taking more grab-and-go items and searching for more nutritious ingredients and comfort foods.
Baking Business reported that in the second half of 2020 and beyond, “everything will be different.” Almost every global food and beverage category has been affected by quarantines, and post-COVID consumer demands have shifted. Market research company IRI says that snacks are no longer assigned to one time of day. Before COVID, all-day snacking was sweeping the nation, with U.S. consumers eating an average of 2.6 snacks a day, and 42% reporting three or more snacks per day. Almost half said they often ate snacks instead of meals at home or work. Post-COVID, manufacturers have an opportunity to raise these numbers even more, as more people are eating at home.
With that, we thought it would be appropriate to take a pause and select some of our favorite made-with-walnuts products that we’ve been consuming during COVID.
Chocolate Reishi Nut Butter, Butterfly Superfoods
The sweet combination of dark chocolate and walnuts is highlighted in Butterfly Superfoods’ Chocolate Reishi Nut Butter, which was a New Hope Network Editors’ Pick. We named this as a great nut butter as part of our spring Walnut Butter Trend Report in the Chocolate + Walnut Flavor Combination trend category. Unique ingredients shine in this nut butter, which includes reishi mushroom powder, walnuts, cacao, cinnamon, vanilla extract and monk fruit. This nut butter pairs great with fruits, on toast or rice cakes or in a smoothie.
Cookie Bites, Fearless Keto
Bites were the word this spring, and Fearless Keto’s Cookie Bites topped our list in the “bites” snacking category. Introduced in December 2019, all three varieties of Fearless Keto’s Cookie Bites — Choco Fudge, Maple Butter and Chocolate Chip — are made with walnut powder. Why walnuts? Nosh.com reports that mother-daughter Fearless Keto owners Mary and Lauren Paley used walnuts for their omega-3 ALA fatty acid content. The Cookie Bites contain 1 gram of net carbs per 1 oz. serving, which is seven mini cookies.
Banana Bread Bliss, Taste Bars
These made-with-walnuts bars tick off every trending consumer demand category. They are indulgent, comforting, nutritious, can be eaten any time of day and are perfect for any location. Banana Bread Bliss bars present the perfect nostalgic taste of home: banana bread. The low-carb, no-sugar-added, gluten-free bars provide 6 grams of protein per bar, along with 8 grams of dietary fiber.
California Veggie Burger, Amy’s Kitchen
Functional, plant-based ingredients are trending, and a great example of a made-with-walnuts center-of-plate offering comes in the form of the California Veggie Burger from Amy’s Kitchen. Walnuts are used as a plant-based protein to distinguish this product while delivering a savory flavor and meat-like texture. These plant-based patties are dairy-free and soy-free. Amy’s says that the search for the “perfect” veggie burger was one of trial and error, recipe after recipe, until this one took shape. Toasted walnuts are mixed with mushrooms, onions, celery, carrots, oats, garlic and potatoes. For consumers looking for that protein and fiber boost, one patty contains 6 grams of protein and 4 grams of dietary fiber.
