New Semester Trend: Popularity of 'Healthy Pleasure Food' Combining Taste and Health

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon] As school admissions and openings approach, more people are showing interest in 'dieting' and 'weight control.' This is because many people have gained weight due to decreased physical activity caused by spending more time at home during COVID-19 and school vacations. In the past, extreme dietary controls such as one-food diets, one meal a day, and fasting were popular for dieting, but recently, a new trend emphasizing that health management should also be enjoyable has taken hold, reflecting increased interest in 'healthy beauty.'

Among the top 10 consumer trends of 2022, 'Healthy Pleasure' or the newly coined term 'Eodahaengda (Since we are going to diet anyway, let's diet happily)' refers to managing health by enjoying tasty and healthy foods instead of eating bland food and suppressing appetite. Accordingly, the food and beverage industry is launching 'Healthy Pleasure Foods' that help with health management and weight control to attract consumers.

Chaesundang Lunchbox & Salad & Meal Kit 24 offers 'Hawaiian Salmon Poke,' 'Sweet Chili Shrimp Poke,' 'Oriental Bulgogi Poke,' and 'Grilled Chicken Poke,' which allow you to enjoy fresh salads abundantly, making them perfect for a healthy diet meal plan. Their own cold chain system keeps vegetables and ingredients fresh. Customers can choose from six sauces including yuzu, oriental, and onion cream according to their taste, and enjoy a hearty and healthy meal with cherry tomatoes, green cucumbers, brown konjac rice, and boiled eggs included.

Emart Kitchen Deli has introduced 'Vegan Tofu Noodle Salad,' 'Sesame Chicken Salad,' and 'Soy Bulgogi Salad Wrap' to encourage vegetable intake and try vegetarian options. Familiar seasonings such as soy sauce and bulgogi flavor are used so that those new to vegetarianism can enjoy them without burden, and ingredients like tofu noodles, potatoes, and grains are added to provide satiety.

Snacks that allow dieters to enjoy sweet and savory flavors while consuming protein are also attracting attention. Daesang Wellife's 'MyMeal New Protein Yogurt Flavor' is a high-protein drink that provides 20g of protein and 2000mg of essential amino acid BCAA, which helps protein synthesis and muscle formation, with just two packs a day. It also contains indigestible maltodextrin, which aids bowel movements.

As interest in health management grows, more people prefer low-sugar foods. Low-sugar foods use natural sweeteners instead of sugar, resulting in lower sugar content and calories, making them ideal for light weight loss meals.

Maeil Dairies' 'Maeil Soy Milk Dietary Fiber Low Sugar' contains 6g of plant-based protein and 6.2g of soluble dietary fiber in a 190ml pack, allowing simultaneous intake of plant protein and soluble fiber. It has a low sugar content of 2g and 100kcal, offering a healthy and savory injeolmi (Korean rice cake) flavor made from five grains.

Benefits' 'Diet Noodles Low Sugar Jjajang' is a product that increases protein content and reduces sugar content while maintaining taste, allowing people of all ages to easily and healthily enjoy jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles). Instead of traditional wheat noodles, it uses 'diet noodles' made from NON-GMO soybeans, and replaces sugar with onions and the low-calorie alternative sweetener erythritol.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.