Foods high in salt and sugar stimulate our taste buds. These delicious foods can be a great joy for some and others, a way to relieve stress.
However, it is a fact that these foods are not as healthy as the so-called ‘clean eating.’ With the advent of COVID-19, demand for healthy food is on the rise. People seek ‘healthy pleasure’ foods for health management, even if it means sacrificing a bit of taste.
According to Lotte Members on the 25th, an analysis based on Lotte’s integrated transaction data showed that the purchase of protein foods in the first half of this year increased by about 75% compared to the same period in 2021. The number of customers purchasing protein foods and the average price per customer also increased by 25% and 40%, respectively.
The item with the most significant increase in purchase amount was protein beverages, showing a 135% increase compared to two years ago. Protein drinks, which contain a large amount of protein and are easy to consume, are a popular health food these days. Powered by this popularity, the number of protein drink products has also increased by at least 1.5 times compared to two years ago.
The demand for protein continued into snacks. According to data, the purchase amount of protein snacks also increased by 108% compared to two years ago. Unlike beverages, many people responded to snack foods that allow them to enjoy a crispy texture while caring for their health.
Chicken breast, which can be called a ‘traditional powerhouse’ in health food, remained popular. The growth rate of chicken breast was only 45%, but it accounted for the highest % of total protein food purchases at 37%.
Furthermore, according to recent data from GS25, the sales of ‘healthy pleasure’ products have recorded a significant increase compared to last year. ‘Zero carbonated drinks’ sold from January to September this year increased by 81.4% compared to the previous year—the sales of protein and functional beverages skyrocketed by a whopping 341.5%.
Recently, not only drinks but also snacks, jellies, pies, and other forms of healthy foods have been released one after another. Middle-aged and older people are also showing great interest in purchasing protein foods. It might be hard to change all your meals right away, but how about adding these healthy pleasure foods to your meal menu or snack options?
By. Kim Dong Hyun
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