Today’s consumers love to try new foods and beverages and are seeking the “triple crown” of exciting flavors, health-related benefits, and a healthier planet. The coming generation of meatless meat, dairy-free dairy, and egg-free solutions will be competing on a very different playing field compared to the past.
50%
of U.S. Consumers describe themselves as
FLeXITARIANS
Steamed bao bun with tofu.
1
THE ADVENTUROUS
FLEXITARIAN
THE ADVENTUROUS FLEXITARIAN
The new, adventurous consumer has a more sophisticated palate than ever before, due to a flood of culinary influences from around the world. These avid thrill-seekers also are more aware of the environment and the stresses placed on it due to resource-intensive food production and stresses of climate change. This has driven the plant-based movement and a more healthful, flexitarian lifestyle that’s deemed to be better for both the body and the planet.
THE MINDFUL
CONSUMER
THE MINDFUL CONSUMER
A mindful consumer craves new things—and to meet these needs, meat, egg, and dairy replacement formulations call for innovative development solutions to exceed consumer flavor and texture expectations. Recent ripples in the industry have stagnated the largest competitors and allowed the smaller start-ups and new entrants the opportunity to jump into the game. With the advantages of greater agility and ample room to innovate, they’re poised to mix in an ingredient toolbox of sophisticated ingredient solutions that deliver texture and flavor—ensuring you take a “better bite” of your next plant-based meal!
DAIRy FRee BAKIng
Going Vegan with Egg-Free Ingredients
The biggest hurdle in the plant-based movement when it comes to baking is replacing eggs.
- Eggs provide structure, flavor, texture, and a complex fat and protein profile in baked goods such as muffins, pound cakes, and especially meringues.
- Replicating the performance of eggs in a meringue brings multiple ingredients into play.
- Structure is absolutely crucial to texture, and thus a powerful influence on the perception of flavor in a meringue product. The eating experience of initial crunch and crumble, followed by meltability2 means that flavor is delivered in phases that are separate and sequential and create a whole sensation greater than the sum of its parts.
Pound for PounD
POUND FOR POUND
Pound cake creates a triple-threat hurdle when it comes to formulation as a plant-based version.
- Typical formulation calls for the “holy trinity” of ingredients—eggs, butter, and milk.
- As with meringue, the trio of ingredients that go into a pound cake each contributes to its classic—and consumer-expected—structure and flavor.
- A balanced combination of egg and dairy replacers with flour and leavening agents can yield a delicious vegan pound cake3.
RISE TO SHINE
Strike the perfect balance between moistness, airiness, and crumb.
- Replacing eggs and dairy in a risen bakery product adds another dimension of complexity since the properties—and success—of the leavening agents are critical.
- Adding flexitarian-friendly ingredients in lieu of traditional additives4 in any dessert or topping recipe allows anyone to indulge their craving for a sweet treat that also boosts your health!
Pound for PounD
Protein Compensation in Flexitarian Ingredients
Plant-based protein solutions can be utilized in many vegan product formulations.
- Plant-based protein solutions, such as from legumes like chickpeas or fava beans, and from seeds and grains, can be utilized in many vegan product formulations, such as hybrid burgers and vegetable protein snacks.
- Baked good formulations replacing egg and dairy protein (such as from milk and cream) can be created and extensively tested by food application technologists into scale-up or finished recipes to ensure final product success.
- Demand for flexitarian alternatives for sugar-based ingredients that also utilize protein, such as dairy-free chocolate, has skyrocketed for consumers who want to satisfy their sweet cravings.
The flexitarian movement remains strong and continues to expand.5 Consumers seeking plant-based products not only have a heightened concern for their physical health but for the health of the planet. Sustainable ingredients provide extra value to the animal-free ingredient toolbox.
25 million
CONSUMERS say they regularly EAT
pLANT BAsed
FOODS
ADDIng
HeALTHy HALO
Flexitarian and plant-based product consumers want to know exactly what they are putting into their bodies. These products should be utilizing a comprehensive ingredient toolbox for plant-based product development that supports multiple aspects of preventive health maintenance and raises an indulgent food to a “higher” level.
THE ADVENTUROUS
FLEXITARIAN
PLANT
PROTEINS
For flexitarians, it is important that animal-free meat, dairy, and egg alternatives employ plant proteins that are easily digestible and replete with a full complement of amino acids.
THE MINDFUL
CONSUMER
DIETARY
FIBERS
Low-glycemic carbohydrates and dietary fibers that help manage blood glucose levels, good digestion, and a healthier metabolism can also allow for enhanced marketing and superior value-added capabilities.
THE MINDFUL
CONSUMER
BURST OF
FLAVOR
Foods that meet consumer expectations for flavorful indulgence and yet add multiple healthy components are an achievable ideal with the right ingredient partner.
AFFORDIng
Be FLeXIBLe
BENEFITS OF SWITCHING TO A FLEXITARIAN LIFESTYLE6
Decrease Risks of Heart Disease
Help with Weight Loss
Manage Pre-Diabetes and Lower Risk of Type-2 Diabetes
Can Help Prevent Certain Cancers
Saving More for The Next Adventure7
Switching to a Plant-Based Diet, With Vegetarian, Vegan, and Flexitarian options, could save the adventurous consumer almost $900 per-person (per year).
Switching to the flexitarian lifestyle can be an affordable, often healthier option that helps the mindful and adventurous consumer feel better about their choices, and pursue a more fulfilling life in the process.
Cleaner labels, such as preservative-free, non-GMO, and no artificial ingredients mean a more inviting product that drives greater consumer interest. Food product makers recognize the value of a development partner that also engages in environmentally friendly operations and leaves a reduced carbon footprint while utilizing land/water resource-conserving practices.
20%
Say They Want More plant-based foods
In THeIR DIeT
REFERENCES
- https://www.dairyfoods.com/articles/95683-flexitarianism-going-mainstream
- https://theplantbasedschool.com/vegan-meringues/
- https://www.masterclass.com/articles/vegan-lemon-pound-cake-recipe
- https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/95342-developing-enticing-better-for-you-specialized-desserts
- https://www.npd.com/news/press-releases/2023/plant-based-beverages-and-foods-have-become-a-kitchen-staple-in-many-homes-and-an-entree-and-ingredient-option-at-foodservice-outlets/
- https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-is-the-flexitarian-diet/
- https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/11/vegan-vegetarian-flexitarian-diets-save-money-new-research
REFERENCES
- https://theplantbasedschool.com/vegan-meringues/
- https://www.masterclass.com/articles/
vegan-lemon-pound-cake-recipe - https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/
95342-developing-enticing-better-for-you-specialized-desserts - https://www.npd.com/news/press-releases/2023/plant-based-beverages-and-foods-have-become-a-kitchen-staple-in-many-homes-and-an-entree-and-ingredient-option-at-foodservice-outlets/
- https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-is-the-flexitarian-diet/
- https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/
11/vegan-vegetarian-flexitarian-diets-save-money-new-research
credits
Images via Getty Images. Hero food shots: fortyforks/iStock / Getty Images Plus; Bao bun: Xsandra/iStock / Getty Images Plus; Farm icons: Miray Celebi Kaba/DigitalVision Vectors; Meringues: TorriPhoto/iStock / Getty Images Plus; Lemon Pound Cake: ASIFE/iStock / Getty Images Plus; Muffin: Ilia Nesolenyi/iStock / Getty Images Plus; Chocolate: vikif/iStock / Getty Images Plus; Grocery bag with vegetables: SherSor/iStock / Getty Images Plus; Grocery icons: Scar1984/iStock / Getty Images Plus; Falafel & Vegan burger: coldsnowstorm/iStock / Getty Images Plus; Fava beans: cattosus/iStock / Getty Images Plus; Chicory root: EKramar/iStock / Getty Images Plus