Page 24 - Food&Drink magazine July 2022

READY MEALS
Nutrition at the ready
Consumers have many different reasons for, and requirements of, their ready meal choices. Nutrition Advisor at My Muscle Chef, Ria Komninos, explains why nutrition is the most important factor.
MEETING CONSUMERS’ CHANGING TASTES
Over the years there has been a shift in what consumers are looking for in ready-made meals and snacks.
Taste and quality are driving trends in convenience meals, with 43 per cent of Australians saying taste is the most important factor in their health food choices.
Secondly, consumers are looking for ‘real food’ solutions that offer a variety of nutritional benefits – from foods that support performance to overall health and wellbeing – without compromising on taste.
We have also seen the emergence of consumers looking for fresh and locally sourced ingredients as they become more aware and conscious of sustainability and food waste.
Personalisation of meals and menu choices is also an area we see more demand for.
PLANT-BASED GROWTH
The search for healthier and more convenient meal and snack options has never been more prominent, with a shift to plant-based eating becoming more mainstream.
In the past few years, we’ve seen more and more consumers shift to plant-based alternatives due to perceived health benefits of switching to unprocessed or minimally processed foods of plant origin, and supporting animal welfare and environmental sustainability.
However, while we are seeing this unfold, most consumers are not entirely ready to give up on the home-cooked familiarity of meat and dairy products.
This highlights to us how taste is a major factor in choosing foods that are nutritious whilst not sacrificing enjoyment, which is a major influence around current food trends including plant-based eating.
EVERY one of us has different goals and requirements when it comes to nutrition. For most, a focus on complete and balanced nutrition is what drives our food choices. However, for those undertaking high-intensity training and exercising, nutrition that supports performance and recovery is critical.
Whilst goals may be different for every individual, the fundamentals of what we need from a nutrition perspective remain the same.
This nutritional variety is achieved through foods rich in protein, complex carbohydrates, foods high in fibre and an abundance of fruits and vegetables.
In an ideal world, we'd all have time to select, buy, prepare and cook a meal made with whole foods and have the knowledge to ensure we're getting the complete nutrition we need.
For many of us this isn’t the case, and it becomes more of a necessity to purchase ready-
made meals and snacks to fulfil these requirements. Ready-made meals give
consumers the benefit knowing the exact nutrients and macros in the meal, enabling them to compare and choose for their specific needs.
At My Muscle Chef our understanding of the importance of physical health has always been the centre of our operations, but we are also watching the new and evolving focus on a holistic approach to health.
43%
OF CONSUMERS SAY TASTE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THEIR FOOD CHOICES.
As consumers continue to prioritise protecting and enhancing their health against a backdrop of needing even more convenient, tasty and flexible meal and snack options, we are walking in their shoes along with them.
As a ready meal manufacturer, we look to current and future nutrition trends and needs when it comes to nutrition innovation.
Providing nutritious, high protein meals and snacks that support total health, performance, and wellbeing, while meeting the growing need for convenient and healthy refuelling options is what drives the business. We call it ‘smart nutrition’.
24 | Food&Drink business | July 2022 | www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au