Nourish the Thought

Live from the road: Cereality Packaging

Was just in Tempe/Mesa Arizona giving cooking lessons and preparing dinner for 20 persons in their home.  Stopped by the Arizona State campus along the way to check out the Cereality concept...very cool & well executed idea.  Here's my phone pic (sorry for the blur) of the leak proof portable container the cereal is served in and the "sloop."  The sloop is a clever spoon that affords you the fun of slurping your milk up when you polish off the cereal, as it has a hole in the bottom end and a straw-like handle.

Shoot me an email or a pic of the most innovative portable packaging that you have come across.

Your Five Senses - Coffee or Soda in the Morning?

As I was flipping through this magazine, the ad to the left really resonated with me.

Drinking soda has been apart of my adult life morning ritual.  Not drinking coffee.  I cannot function if I don't have my soda of choice in the morning.  And finally, an ad that speaks to that.  Because for me, there is nothing better than that cool (somtimes downright cold) refreshing caffeinated beverage down the back of the throat.  Something I'm sure coffee drinkers might not get.

Turns out I'm not alone.  Consumption of soft drinks at breakfast has nearly doubled in the past 15 years, while coffee consumption at breakfast has fallen nearly 25%.*

So what does your morning ritual consist of, coffee or soda?

*The data is specific to drinks with meals, eaten outside the home.

Your Five Senses - Col-Pop Good vs. Evil

Recently I came across the Col-Pop, a new fast food packaging first seen in South Korea and is now coming to America.  My first thought was that this is brilliant.  As a person that has eaten many meals on the go I appreciate the thought process.

I also thought about the other possibilities that this product could hold.  Movies and sporting events could benefit the most from this idea; at both places you usually have to climb over people with your drinks, nachos, popcorn and in my case a soda and Sour Patch Kids at the movies (a youthful treat I haven't been able to kick).

This same company has also discussed the idea of French fries, spaghetti and fried mozzarella balls in these handy-dandy Col-Pop containers.  I started to envision people walking their dogs talking on their Bluetooth's eating spaghetti all at the same time.  It was this vision that made me stop and think, is this okay with me?

As the minutes went by I started think about the social issues that are also served in this package.  Are we too concerned with convenience in today's fast paced society?  Are we taking "cupholder cuisine" too far?  Do we really need this?

I'm all for creativity and this is certain a creative product.  So I leave you with these final thoughts:

• Have we finally reached the climax of our snacking potential or are going to see more of these products in the future?
• What is the most creative packaging that you have seen in the last year in America or traveling abroad?  If you have pictures, please share.

Our Five Cents - Super Mom

To make it to your fridge, it has to be in your shopping cart.  It is interesting how much your top 5 favorite fridge ingredients can actually effect your bulk purchases.  Meaning, if you are purchasing tortillas there is a high probability you are also purchasing ground hamburger, cheese, salsa, etc. to make bigger meals.

In compiling our 5 cents worth, it became apparent to feature mom.  Moms have a great deal of influence on what is in that cart for the family.  Maybe we should have asked for pics of your shopping cart vs. your 5 favs, to get the true picture of your lifestyle?

Speaking of lifestyles; as moms experience change, especially those with kids, so goes the entire consumer marketplace.  Did you know that moms are the primary purchasers or decision makers for nearly evey consumer goods category in America.

It is estimated that they spend $1.7 trillion or more each year.  Staggering numbers!

Perhaps, you should give mom a well-deserved hug or at least help with the groceries.

Your Five Senses - Drinkable Sun Protection

If given the option to protect yourself form the sun by drinking your sun protection, would you go for it? With the prevalence of skin cancer (skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S. More than 1 million skin cancers are diagnosed annually - The Skin Cancer Foundation), aren't we crazy not to utilize any protection option available to us?

LycoRed is a natural tomato carotenoid composition of lycopene, phytoene and phytofluene, all highly unsaturated yellow to red pigments occurring in plants and animals. The composition is said to protect the skin from the damaging effects of UV-radiation. "This is a natural lycopene composition that can be either encapsulated in a soft gel or easily added to a beverage to create a year round fortified sun protection drink. While it does not replace topical sunscreen, when taken daily, it provides a degree of both UVA and UVB protection even during months of the year when one is not likely to apply a topical lotion."

Think about the potential - with every cup of coffee you have in the mornings to get your day going, you could be warding off the harmful effects of the sun. Maybe you are not a coffee drinker,  so how about putting in your OJ or bottled water.

I am curious as to whether you think this is a good idea and the next evolution of nutriceuticals or the next generation of putting stuff in our bodies that at the end of the day end up doing more harm than good.

Our Five Cents - Potato Chip Flavors

Whether it’s Millennials who grew up eating out with their parents and are catered to on their college campuses to Matures who need increasingly flavorful foods because of their loss of taste buds, American consumers are more sophisticated and adventurous than ever before, seeking out new and exotic flavors. 

This adventurous spirit has lead to the mainstreaming of many ethnic cuisines to different types of pairings, such as sweet heat or sweet and savory.  And while consumers can regularly find new or exotic flavors at restaurants, more and more these flavors can be found in everyday products on grocery shelves . 

Besides the brands mentioned before, Kettle Chips also does a great job pushing the potato chip envelope.  Their People’s Choice contest each year draws foodies and non-foodies alike to taste and vote for their favorite new flavor.  Past People’s Choice winners include Cheddar Beer, Island Jerk and Death Valley Chipotle.  In fact, one of last years contenders was Aztec Chocolate, so my wish for a spicy chocolate chip isn’t too far fetched. 

Many flavors are the brain child of consumers who enter their ideas through the website.  Kettle even lists the 10 weirdest and 10 most inspirational suggestions given here.  To me, the Deep Fried Sour Pickle doesn’t sound that wacky. 

Consumers increasingly demand their food, whether at home or away, in a variety of choices that satisfy their need for new experiences.  Brands who continue to deliver on this will surely only benefit from it.

Your Five Senses - What's In Your Fridge?

Would love to know what’s in your fridge and what you keep on hand for your stable of “go to” ingredients. 

Was thinking it would be cool to post pics of “what’s in your fridge” as a way to learn how people shop, what are the staples in your lifestyle and the personality of your food.  Send us your fridge pics and we will post a collection of photos and list a cross-section of food styles across the country and hopefully the globe.

I opened the fridge the other night and my 30+ years flashed before my eyes.  Things were the same yet also drastically different.  Some of my tried and true favorites were still there:  Smuckers Jam, iced tea, tortillas.  But what the heck has invaded the space:  Smart waters, egg whites, colored yogurts, edamame, applesauce is now lite? and there is enough string cheese to feed a dairy addicted army.

I was reflecting on how our fridge is a direct correlation of past, present and future.  For me - it can truly prove challenging to get a meal together for dinner as our current family is time compressed, we have different schedules and everything seems to run faster than fast!  Convenience has woven its way into the fabric of our family mealtime.

It is interesting to me what my fridge has looked like over the years, morphing from college to bachelor life to family times.  Throw in up/down financial budgets and all the areas that I have lived in & out of the country and there is an interesting story each time that door has opened and the fridge light goes on.

What’s your story - what are your current top 5 favs that are kept in your fridge, that you just can’t live without?

For me right now its:

1. Hard boiled eggs – buy them pre-cooked and peeled; 6 per bag; use these in everything:  eat whole as a snack, chop them up in salads; make egg/tuna salad for sandwiches.  Great for quick on the go sustenance.

2. YO+  probiotic yogurt – tasty; can’t get enough of these lately; seem to be good for you although 1 a day seems just fine; all the flavors are great.

3. Pickled ginger – real deal vs. processed; use this in salad dressings; entrees; beverages; tossed with grapefruit and strawberries; and as a general flavor kick.

4. Mission tortillas – great for quick snacks; sandwiches and meals for the family; 6” size works best for us and has more uses.

5. Swanson chicken broth (box) – my go to ingredient for quick sauces & flavor; adding flavor to veggies; soups; etc.  Great to have handy as it always seems to find its way into mealtime – as it gives you the feeling of scratch even if your are using prepared foods.

  See what's in my fridge