Healthy Snacks Trending in 2012

CHICAGOThe New Year always brings a host of resolutions to get in shape and choose healthy foods and snacks, and this weekends Super Bowl will test Americans willpower when it comes to snacking.

According to a recent Mintel survey, 44% of healthy snackers report eating healthfully most of the time and 42% make it a point to snack on foods that are healthy. At the same time, indulgence can be part of a well-rounded lifestyle, as 39% of healthy snackers say they use less-healthy nibbles as an occasional treat.

In terms of defining healthy foods, 86% of those surveyed chose fresh fruit, followed by raw vegetables (73%) and nuts/seeds (71%). Interestingly, 12% of those surveyed said ice cream is healthy and 9% put cookies on their healthy menus. Nearly half (46%) of respondents say its hard to find healthy snacks in vending machines or other on-the-go locations, while 16% say it takes more time to prepare a healthy snack than other types.

Eating healthy snacks can offer many benefits to consumers, such as increased energy and feeling fuller longer, so there is a big opportunity for the makers and marketers of snacks to leverage these connections to maximize health positioning," said Molly Maier, senior wellness analyst at Mintel. The number of snackers who only consume healthy treats is a relatively small one, but one that shouldnt be ignored by snack-food manufacturers."