Snacking trends: Functional benefits and healthier choices

“Further, workplace wellness initiatives have elevated the role of snacks in daily routines,” Farrar continues. “Employees increasingly associate healthy snacking with better energy and focus, and companies are responding by curating selections that reflect these priorities.”

Healthy snacks: More than a midday pick-me-up

And, as snacking has become a larger part of people’s daily routines, it’s no longer just a midday affair. Rather, people are taking multiple snack breaks throughout the day and crave indulgences that support on-the-go nutrition.

Glanbia Nutritionals’ Healthy Snacking Trends report reveals that snackers are noshing on a wider variety of occasions, such as after hitting the gym in the morning, during a work break, or when they’re relaxing in the afternoon. “Consumers are choosing snack times to meet a range of needs from providing morning energy to serving as a meal substitute,” notes the report.

Yaxin Fan, R&D manager with CiboVita/Nature’s Garden, perceives the same trend: “Whether it’s a morning refresher to kick start the day, a midday energy boost or an indulgent, yet nourishing treat in the afternoon, functional benefits such as sustained energy, mental focus, or gut health are increasingly important. At the same time, there is a growing demand for convenient grab-and-go formats as they eliminate the need for morning prep and allow easy consumption any time of day.”

Michael Klitsberg, senior sales manager, strategic accounts, with Dole Packaged Foods, agrees. “There’s a noticeable shift toward all-day snacking,” he says. “Traditional mealtimes are being replaced with more frequent, intentional snacking moments. Consumers are seeking snacks that are not only delicious but provide energy, fullness and real nutritional value to help power them throughout the day.”

It seems consumers’ appetite for convenient but healthy options, combined with more frequent nibbling, is driving steady snack food market growth. Globally, the snack food market was estimated to be valued at over $490 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach almost $659 billion by 2032. At the same time, the North American snack product market — a significant portion of those figures — was worth $114 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to almost $165 billion during the forecast period, according to Stratis Research’s Snack Food Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report, 2024 to 2032.

The report states: “Due to its fast-paced lifestyle, the United States is seeing an increase in demand for convenient and healthy snack food. More extended workdays and busier lifestyles have caused customers to switch from expensive luncheons and meals to desk snacks and packaged food, increasing snack sales.”

Although busy people rely heavily on snacks, their munching is not mindless. “Growing awareness of the importance of health and wellness encourages consumers to seek healthier dietary options, including snacks,” according to Grandview Research’s Healthy Snacks Market Size, Share and Trends Analysis Report 2024 to 2030. “As people become more conscious of the link between diet and health, they actively seek snacks that offer nutritional benefits and support their overall well-being.”

In response, companies are launching portable, healthier versions of traditional treats in every category from crackers to proteins to fruits to sweets. Read on to sink your teeth into the flavorful and functional snacks filling today’s vending, micro market and OCS shelves.

Craveable, health-conscious crunch

“Wellness trends have shifted the way people think about snacking at work,” says Sammy Kestenbaum, co-founder and CEO of 7 Mile Brands. “More consumers are making the connection between what they eat and how they feel, but the focus is less about restriction and more about feeling good throughout the day.

“People are snack-happier than ever, but they’re getting pickier,” Kestenbaum continues. “There’s more emphasis on flavor exploration, nostalgic comfort, and multitasking snacks that deliver joy in every bite. That’s where our product’s flavor-forward line up lives.”

He says, “Our Pretzel Pita Chips and Pretzel Crackers reflect what today’s snackers want: real ingredients, bold flavor, and better-for-you swaps like oven-baked instead of fried. Made with non-GMO ingredients, the 2-oz. single-serve bags of Pretzel Snackers deliver a bold, craveable crunch in a portion-controlled format that’s ideal for grab-and-go workplace snacking.”

Rebecca Brady, CEO of Top Seedz, adds that crunch cravers are looking for savory options with bold, global flavors that offer health benefits such as fiber, protein and healthy fats while prioritizing clean ingredients and functional nutrition. She says Top Seedz clean-label seed crackers and roasted seeds satisfy these yearnings. “Our fiber-rich, protein-packed organic seeds provide clean energy that supports focus and productivity in convenient, shelf-stable pouches that are ideal for grab-and-go snacking,” notes Brady.

Prioritizing protein

Similarly, nuts are well suited for convenience services, especially micro markets and vending in workplace environments, because they offer protein, fiber and unsaturated fats for a trio of nutrients that may help snackers feel fuller for longer, a beneficial combination for bridging hunger between meals, says Diana Salsa, vice president of marketing with Wonderful Pistachios. “Protein is a top benefit sought in snacks, and pistachios standout as the highest protein nut,” she says. “Wonderful Pistachios are a nutritious, satisfying snack that provide both flavor and function.”

Wonderful’s In-Shell flavors include Roasted & Salted, Sweet Chili, and Salt & Pepper, among others. The No-Shells line includes traditional options like Roasted & Salted, as well as unique flavors such as Jalapeno Lime and Dill Pickle.

Farrar with Jack Link’s agrees that while consumers gravitate toward high protein, they also want to explore bold new flavors. Although the company has been a widely recognized protein snack brand for years with their Jack Link’s Sticks, they continue to expand their portfolio with flavors such as Wild Frank’s RedHot chicken sticks and the new Jack Link’s Duos line of products that feature two flavors in one package, such as Buffalo and Ranch sticks made with chicken.

And, thanks to technologies such as smart coolers, protein-packed dairy items like cottage cheese can now be offered in workplace and other vending and micro markets, says Darin Copeland, public relations manager with Prairie Farms Dairy. “Our 4-oz. ProPack Snack cottage cheese cups offer 12 grams of protein, so they are perfect for snacking and appeal to consumers who are interested in health and wellness and products that offer high nutritional value,” he says. “We think promoting a workplace culture centered on healthy behaviors and food offerings is a wise choice. Snacks like cottage cheese can help improve the physical and mental health of employees because they help with satiation and nutritional value.”

Functional, flavorful fruit-forward options

Similarly, technology is making it easier to bring frozen and specialty items into workplace environments, says Dole’s Klitsberg. “With advancements in frozen vending, products like our Dole Smoothie and Açaí Bowls are making fruit-forward snacks more easily accessible to accommodate healthy snacking.

“These products are designed for the way people snack today. Food is fuel and consumers want to make sure they’re filling their tank with the right ingredients,” explains Klitsberg. “More people are recognizing the direct connection between what they eat and how they feel — especially during the workday. Choosing better-for-you snacks that are energizing can contribute to higher productivity, greater focus, and a more positive mood.”

He says Dole’s Smoothie and Açaí bowls are dairy-free and topped with real fruit and crunchy granola, making them “a refreshing, better-for-you option for anytime snacking.”

Meanwhile, other snack makers are combining the health benefits of fruit with functional ingredients for gut health in convenient, portion-controlled packaging. “Functional benefits such as sustained energy, mental focus, and gut health are increasingly important,” notes CiboVita/Nature Garden’s Fan. “Many consumers report feeling the positive impact of probiotics on their digestion and overall health, which in turn helps them improve focus and productivity at work.”

She suggests this is one of the reasons for the workplace popularity of the company’s Probiotic Yoggies, which are yogurt-covered fruit bites that offer 2 billion gut-healthy probiotics and 3 grams of dietary fiber per serving. Yoggies are non-GMO, gluten-free certified, and contain no artificial colors or flavors, making them ideal for inclusive eating.

Functional indulgence

Wellness trends are also influencing tweaks in traditional indulgences like chocolate and granola bars so that they provide functional benefits such as energy and protein while satisfying a sweet tooth.

Adam Deremo, founder and CEO of Awake, says, “Today’s well-informed consumers are more likely to select items that align with their personal health goals. This shift toward purposeful snacking has been a driver of Awake’s growth, as our chocolate offers indulgence and a functional energy boost to promote productivity.”

According to Deremo, Awake Chocolate Bites are a hit in the micro market and OCS space. “Each 0.48-oz. bite is crafted with premium, Fair Trade-certified chocolate and infused with 50 mg of caffeine — equivalent to about half a cup of coffee — making them an ideal pick-me-up for the mid-afternoon slump or night shifts,” he says. “All Awake Chocolate products are certified gluten-free, offering a delicious, energizing, and convenient option for health-conscious consumers.”

Kind, which has a long-standing presence in vending, micro markets, and OCS spaces, with their Kind Classic Nut Bars, recently launched the new Kind Protein Max bars. “They offer 20 grams of protein and zero grams of added sugar, hitting many of the benefits consumers are looking for,” says Kelly Dunn, senior director of growth channels with Kind.

“Additionally, consumers are looking for snacks to fuel their day, and that includes the afternoon slump many of us face during the workday,” Dunn says. “This specific insight led us to create Kind Healthy Grain Energy Bars, which are hitting the shelves now. These bars are made from 100% whole grains, are a good source of fiber, and come in flavors like Strawberry Banana and Mixed Berry, so they are just the snack boost people need.”

While it seems that consumers crave snacks now more than ever, today’s healthier snacking culture promotes physical and mental well-being through convenient, on-the-go options that provide nutritional and functional benefits, satisfying cravings for flavorful indulgence throughout the day.