Specialty Foods Liven up Kids' Lunch Boxes

NEW YORKOnce a staple inside kids lunch boxes, the traditional PB&J sandwich is giving way to distinctive snacks including organic, healthful and locally made specialty food items. According to the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT), sales of specialty foods that are lunch box staples showed huge growth last year in the $63 billion specialty food industry.

According to an article posted on NASFTs Website for consumers, specialty retailers report parents want easy-to-pack choices, but also want larger sizes to re-pack themselves. Choices favor items that are organic, healthful and locally made. Yogurt is hot, and so are nutrition and cereal bars. In fact, NASFT noted from 2007 to 2009, sales of yogurt and kefir shot up 38.6 percent, and sales of chips, pretzels and snacks grew 15.4 percent.

Specialty food makers are increasingly catering to children as mom and dad become more adventurous in their own food choices," said Ann Daw, president of the NASFT. Parents want to share the excitement of great food and new flavors with their kids."