New trends keep coming and going in every facet of human life on Earth. And the same applies to the way people eat. It is difficult to miss the growing demand for plant protein among people.
The health priorities of the modern generation have changed, and different environmental factors also influence their food choices. One popular trend that has hit the consumer market hard after the pandemic is the constant search for new foods.
And the industry for soy food has responded very well to this evolving demand with more innovative products, such as frozen soy-based desserts, chocolate soy snacks, soy-based non-dairy cheeses, ricotta, and fortified tofu.
In this era where people’s living standards are continually improving, plant-based food sources like soy are gaining more attention for their environmental friendliness and nutritional value.
Besides, large-scale innovation in the soy food production arena also appeals to health-conscious consumers.
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Innovative Soy Foods and Their Properties
Nowadays, people are enthusiastic about the wellness movement and innovative food and energy industries focusing on hygiene and safety, placing increased significance on food sustainability and transparency.
As per reports, 75% of global food consumers expect organizations to invest in food sustainability. More and more consumers are choosing foods with antioxidants, probiotics, and superfoods rich in vitamins and minerals. And in this category, traditional and modern innovative soy foods retain specific consumer appeal.
Soy foods contain antioxidant properties, but recent innovations, like fermented soybean cakes, are rich in probiotics. New soy food items, like fortified tofu, include post-biotics and probiotics, minerals and vitamins, like vitamin D and calcium, and protein.
As consumers now have their focus on everything they eat and the different varieties of proteins available, they have started opting for complete protein like soy to meet their dietary requirements.
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Versatility Is the Key!
The versatility of soy makes it an apt food for innovation and inclusion in several food items. As more and more people become health conscious and take up plant-based diets, restaurants have begun including inventive soy products in their menus. Reports by the International Food Information Council state 28% of individuals have more plant-based protein while 24% eat more plant-based meat alternatives. And for most consumers, soy is one of the newest protein options.
The versatility of soy as a food item creates a scope for restaurants to introduce new and exciting menus featuring the best soy proteins. Soy innovations, like hybrid flavors, appeal to adventurous consumers looking to indulge in extraordinary foods and beverages. Another innovative soy inclusions in restaurant menus are soy pepperoni, specifically introduced for pizzerias.
Soy versatility works to its advantage, with one-half of the consumers worldwide now practicing flexitarian diets, including both meat and meat alternatives. The versatility of soy ranges from minimally processed options like soymilk, tofu, and edamame to highly innovative, convenience items like soy-based dessert products and frozen meals.
Inventive soy foods are one of the most convenient ways for consumers to include more plant-based ingredients in recipes, with an assortment of product alternatives that can easily be adapted to vegetarian, vegan, and hybrid or flexitarian eating styles. The wide range of options available today allows consumers to have the best of soy foods, including packages of soy protein snacks, soy beverages, flavored soy nuts, and edamame pasta.
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Innovative Soy Foods: The Perfect Option for Mindful Eating
Innovative soy foods keep in perfect pace with the changing health priorities of people these days. These foods have successfully made their place in the lives of people who practice mindful eating.
This food trend encompasses environmental considerations, ingredient sourcing, plant-based diets, health considerations, and clean eating.
As per research, mindful eating, or attentiveness to how you buy, prepare, and have food, can decrease behaviors such as emotional eating and binge eating. It can also help people develop skills to manage health problems, depression, and chronic pain.
In research for mindful eating, 24% of US consumers stated that digestive health is of prime importance to them, and they manage it by consuming probiotics.
While traditional fermented soy products, like tempeh, miso, and soy yogurt, contain probiotics, newly introduced, innovative soy foods like fortified tofu contain post-biotics and probiotics.
Post-biotics can change the gut microbiome and offer health advantages like strengthening the immune system. On the other hand, probiotics are considered healthy for gut microbiota.
Enhancement of Nutritional Attributes of Soy
High-quality protein is one of the most vital nutritional features of almost all available soy foods. Several manufacturers are fast enhancing this aspect in their brand-new retail products.
High-protein tofu bars are one of the most inventive soy foods promoted as healthy and sustainable. Besides, the all-new flavored tofu offers several culinary possibilities, such as ponzu, edamame, curry, and garlic-and-herb seasoned and spiced tofu.
Inventive Soy Foods Improve Global Nutrition
Different soy products made using sustainably grown soy can easily blend with animal proteins and thus appeal to flexitarians, omnivores, and vegetarians alike. Soy perfectly complements dairy products; you can combine tofu with ricotta cheese in lasagna or with different meats, such as edamame with roasted pork. Blend TSP or textured soy protein with ground turkey or beef to make pasta, chili sauces, or honey to use as a topping for fruit crumble desserts. Soy foods can thus improve global nutrition to a considerable extent.
Conclusion
So, this is all about soy foods and their innovation. Besides the decrease in the risk of diseases, innovative and inventive soy foods are good enough to be part of a balanced and healthy diet.
Inventive soy products come in varied forms. There are meat alternatives, such as tempeh and tofu, soy-based protein powders that increase muscle strength, and edamame which offer a whopping 17 grams of protein.
Food scientists are further working on creating alternatives to ice cream, milk, cheese, and beyond from protein-rich soy. So, you can easily opt for soy and various soy foods to stay healthy in the long run!
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