Our categorywatching Baby & Children 2024 report is now available on the hub, and it's an exciting time for future generations as we explore healthier choices, recipe hacks, and affordable goodness!
Our Baby & Children report looks at trends in baby food, children's drinks, school dinners, lunchbox meals, weaning foods and more. In this report, we analyse thousands of touch points across global menus, retail and social media to identify the big trends and future foresight.
Here are three key points from our report:
1. Lunchbox Love – Lunchboxes receive a nutritious makeover as parents look to give their little ones some 'stealth health' and added extras - think convenient gut-friendly snack packs, added immunity support drinks, and protein wraps. Lacklustre sandwiches transform into flavourful pasta salads with protein-rich chickpeas – and delectable katsu curries are packed with fibre-rich veggies, helping reach the 5-a-day goal! As for sweet treats, they are often the highlight of any lunchbox and can be made even better with a healthy twist. For instance, low-sugar chia jam bars and cookie dough-inspired protein-packed energy balls fuel the school day.
2. Legumes & Grains – As consumers continue to look for tasty-yet-affordable meals, legumes and grains are getting their time to shine – and they are celebrated for their versatility, flavour and nutrient density. Packed with fibre and protein, lentils transform into wraps ready for amble fillings, and quinoa and butter beans combine for convenient bite-sized burgers – as well as rounding out the nutritional profile of baby food pouches. And who says these ingredients are only for savoury dishes? Not us! How about einkorn 'Oreos', millet chocolate brownies, or chickpea cookie dough for a delicious twist?
3. No Nasties – The conversation around ultra-processed food has spurred a movement to minimal ingredient lists and increased demand for transparency and traceability, with many looking to make their favourite confectionary treats from scratch. For instance, homemade energy bars ditch refined sugar for sweetness from dates and bananas. Meanwhile, everyone's summer fave – ice lollies! – utilise only one or two ingredients as a healthy alternative. And there are recipe hacks galore, too, with social media offering a helping hand; think ten-minute hidden veggie nuggets and freezable protein-rich breakfast muffins readily available for the mad morning rush!
trendhub subscribers can access the full 107-page Baby & Children report on the hub here. If you're not yet subscribed but are interested to find out more, please get in touch.