Anyone who has spent a day fasting from food, or who has even
skipped a meal, knows just how much time we save when we are
not provisioning and consuming meals. Of course, efficiency is
not our only concern when it comes to eating. If we were to
articulate our fundamental requirements for food, we would
probably come up with the following: (1) it should give us
the nutrition our bodies need (2) it should support our body
transformation goals (e.g. lose fat or gain muscle) (3) it
should taste good (4) it should be convenient. Foods that meet
two or three of these requirements quickly become a mainstay
in most diets.
A new development in nutrition research called ‘capsulized food’
aims to exceed these requirements. Pennsylvania-based Protica
Research is the first of what will likely be many companies
dabbling in this new food frontier. Among other development
initiatives on their roster, Protica Research engineers liquid
foods that are ultra-compact, nutrient-dense, and above all
else, very palatable. Their first product, Profect®, delivers
25 grams of protein and the complete spectrum of water-soluble
vitamins in less than three fluid ounces. This on-the-go
nutrition has some consumers re-thinking their traditional
eating habits. An examination of the four fundamental
requirements for food will help explain why.
NUTRIENT DENSITY
Nutrition. It is our first priority when it comes to eating.
While it is not always on the front of our minds when we reach
for food, it is the reason we eat. There are many nutrient-rich
and nutrient-poor foods available to us, and we must always
consume our fair share of nutrient-rich foods for the sake of
our health, well-being and energy level.
The challenge is that nutrient-dense foods—such as milk, eggs,
fish, and chicken—are not always within arms reach. Snacks, junk
food and fast food generally are. It often takes too much effort
for a busy person to procure the necessary vitamins and protein,
and so we end up going without. This can hurt us in the long run
as our immune system and energy levels suffer. Studies have
shown that many of the so-called ‘junk food junkies’ and ‘fast
food addicts’ would prefer eating nutritionally sound foods if
they were within arm’s reach.
SUPPORTING BODY TRANSFORMATION GOALS
For many of us, we keep a careful eye on the foods we eat.
Either we are trying to lose fat, gain muscle, or maintain what
we have. Whether we are browsing the supermarket aisles or a
restaurant menu, we find ourselves looking for foods that are
consistent with these goals.
For some, low-carbohydrate foods are at the top of the shopping
list. These consumers have become more aware of the health risks
and weight gain associated with eating carbohydrate-rich foods.
For others, low-fat foods are the order of the day. Still others
seek a balance of proteins, carbohydrates and fats.
The common denominator in all of these diets is protein, along
with the supporting micronutrients, such as vitamins and
minerals.
While it is possible to get vitamins and protein without fat or
carbohydrates when you are cooking at home, it is a much taller
order to do that in a compact transportable meal. Manufacturers
like EAS and Protica Research offer high protein beverages to
support any transformation goals. Protica’s Profect provides
a full 25 grams of protein and the complete spectrum of
water-soluble vitamins. The important point for the diet
conscious, however, is that all of these nutrients come without
the cost of fat and carbohydrates. This allows your body to
maintain health and energy without weighing you down with
unnecessary carbohydrates or fat.
TASTE
For most of us, the taste of a product determines whether we
make it part of our dietary regimen. No amount of nutrition can
make up for a poor taste. Food manufacturers have learned this
lesson well in recent years, as many nutritious products have
been pulled from supermarket shelves due to lackluster taste.
As consumer expectations have continued to rise, a plethora
great-tasting and nutritious food products have entered the
market. Capitalizing on this fact, Protica Research developed a
line of flavors for its capsulized protein beverage that target
age groups from adolescents to seniors. Double-blind taste
tests have shown that the flavor profile of Profect is
indistinguishable from non-carbonated fruit drinks on the
market.
CONVENIENCE
Every once in a while, maybe even every evening, we want to sit
down to a well-set table and share a meal with family or friends.
Capsulized food is not about taking this important ritual out of
our lives, and it is not about replacing fresh foods. The reality
of living in the 21st century is that most people spend their day
working, and this means the kitchen or garden is inaccessible.
This is true for stay-at-home moms as well as business executives
putting in long days at the office.
This on-the-go lifestyle is not compatible with eating nutritious
meals. The difficulty of finding time for a proper meal has led
many people to become dependent upon compact snack or junk foods
that they can keep in their purse or briefcase. These compact
foods have become a mainstay of the American diet because they
are portable and can be consumed quickly. However we often find
that the portability, and thus the convenience, of these foods
is lacking. The traditional convenience foods that we can find
in grocery and convenience stores are not generally packaged
with rough transportation in mind. The packaging of many food
and beverage products accidentally break open after they have
spent time in a bag or purse.
Another common complaint surfaces once the packaging is opened.
Many convenience foods—meal replacement bars, for example—are
sticky or crumbly. You can also find yourself reaching for water
to wash them down. Problem is, convenience should mean ‘napkins
and water not required’.
While portability and quick consumption are two things that we
have come to look for in a convenient food, these traits are
often illusive.
Protica Research offers two innovations when it comes to
convenience. First, their Profect protein beverage is a
liquid—and weighs less than three fluid ounces—which means that
you can quickly and easily consume it even while on the run.
Second, Profect takes portability to a new level by packaging
it in a patent-pending, virtually unbreakable container. This
means that it can be taken absolutely anywhere, and you will
not have to worry about your meal ending up all over your purse
or briefcase.
HOW TO MEET OUR MODERN NUTRITION NEEDS
The advent of health-consciousness has come at a time when our
lifestyles are increasingly hectic. This means that people are
looking for a healthy, nutritious, and portable food that is
quick to consume. In order to meet this demand, the food industry
must adapt and respond. Companies like Protica Research are
developing capsulized foods that will deliver on-the-go nutrition
that is more portable, more convenient and more palatable than
its predecessors.
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