by Nutritious and Delicious: Health Benefits of Millet Based Snack
Millets are a group of highly nutritious cereal grains that have long been a staple crop in Asia and Africa. Though lesser known in Western diets, millets are slowly gaining recognition for their abundant health and nutritional advantages. Millets are a good source of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They are also gluten-free and have a low glycemic index, making them suitable for people with diabetes or gluten sensitivities. Millets contain important B vitamins that support energy production and healthy skin, hair, and eyes. They are also high in minerals like magnesium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc. Eating millets regularly aids digestion and heart health. Millets have antioxidant properties that can protect cells from damage and help reduce inflammation in the body. Overall, millets provide balanced nutrition that benefits both physical and mental wellbeing.
New Ways of Enjoying Millets beyond Traditional Porridge
While millets are frequently consumed as porridge or flatbread in Asia, snack manufacturers are helping introduce innovative millet snacks to global consumers. Millets lend themselves well to the production of tasty and healthy packaged snacks. Unlike wheat and rice, millets don’t need refined before consumption. Their whole-grain form provides maximum nutrients. Snack companies are developing shelf-stable millet granola bars, instant finger foods, cookies, chips, and puffs made from different varieties of millets like finger millet, pearl millet, proso millet, and foxtail millet. These snacks maintain the nutritional advantages of millets while offering convenience and portability. They can be easily taken along on the go or consumed between meals for an energy and fiber boost. With their gluten-free nature and versatile flavors, millet snacks are catering to a wide consumer segment looking for better-for-you snack options.
Granola Bars – A Popular MVP amongst Millet Snacks
Granola bars have emerged as a top format for introducing millets to new audiences in a familiar Millet Based Snacks form. Granola bars incorporate clusters of toasted millets mixed with dried fruits and nuts for texture and flavor. Manufacturers are exploring innovative recipes with different millet varieties such as finger millet granola bars infused with dates or coconut and pearl millet bars blended with almonds and pumpkin seeds. Some variants include add-ins like honey, maple syrup or chocolate chips. Millet granola bars offer an ideal combination of portability, nutrition and taste excitement that drives their adoption amongst young professionals, gym-goers and health enthusiasts. They provide sustained energy, fiber and antioxidants in a grabbable format appreciated across demographics. As consumers become more aware of millets’ goodness, granola bars show promise in cementing millets in global diets for the years to come.
Homestyle Chips and Cookies – Rustic yet Indulgent Treats
For snack seekers wanting a break from routine potato or corn chips, millet chips and cookies provide a satisfying answer. Made from finger millets and red millets primarily, these crackers and cookies have an earthy taste and rustic appeal. Millet chips are baked to a light crispness and seasoned simply with salt and herbs or creatively with blends like chili-lime. Millet cookies use the grains in a nutrition-boosted base with oats and flaxseeds. Both chips and cookies leverage traditional recipes but with modern nutritionals and quality control for an upgraded snack experience. Their wholesome image and guilt-free flavor profiling is perfect for social snacks and festive indulgence. With heftier servings of protein and fiber than refined snacks, millet crackers and biscuits satisfy both taste buds and health needs better, especially on the go. Thoughtfully crafted in smaller artisanal batches too, they represent heritage grains and elevate snacking culture.
Innovative Forms Leveraging Millet Based Snacks Textural Flexibility
Besides granola bars and homestyle treats capturing market attention, newfangled millet based snack s are stretching formulation horizons. Instant finger foods utilize millets’ light and airy attributes to craft innovative puffs in combos with lentils, chickpeas, corn or rice. Natural seasoning and minor reworking make for products straddling snacks and condiments. For example, tangy-spiced millet puffs double as crisps or toppers on salads. Expanding the versatility are extruded snacks and cereals featuring millets’ ability to hold shapes like noodles, ribbons or pieces. Nutrient-packed cereals combine millets with oats and grains like quinoa for complexity. Companies also fashion molded snacks from red and proso millets, providing exciting textures like crisp balls, discs or clusters in doughnut, funnel or cone forms. Backed by nutritionals and sustainability, these
modernized millet carriers promise to energize the snacks space.
The popularity of millet based snack is driven by rising health and environmentally conscious consumerism. Their wholesome credentials supported by traditional roots and modern techniques are winning global markets. With continuous innovation honoring millets’ nutritional strengths and culinary nuances, these snacks show strong potential to secure significant shelf space and help establish millets in diets worldwide for the long term.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public Source, Desk Research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
Ravina Pandya
Ravina Pandya,Content Writer, has a strong foothold in the market research industry. She specializes in writing well-researched articles from different industries, including food and beverages, information and technology, healthcare, chemical and materials, etc. LinkedIn
