Today’s foodies are more health-conscious than ever before – but they’re also busy, juggling work, family, and friends. That doesn’t leave much time to figure out what to make for a healthy dinner, especially with today’s sky-high grocery prices. With health-conscious consumers on the rise and as many as 41% of consumers opting for vegan or vegetarian dishes at least once per week (Technomic, 2023), now’s the perfect time to introduce your line of delicious, nutritious healthy ready meals.
If you’re looking to boost flavor at an affordable price point, look no further than our custom sauces, dips, dressings, drizzles, and marinades. Our expertise can take your healthy ready meals to the next level, tantalizing consumers with globally-inspired tastes. Read on to find out more about the growing popularity of healthy ready meals and vegetarian ready meals – and how custom sauces can help you get in on the booming trend.
Nutritious, Delicious, and Convenient: Healthy Ready Meals
Great flavor isn’t enough for today’s consumers. They’re looking for fresh, functional ingredients – everything from satisfying plant-based proteins to rich, flavorful dressings and dips. For companies formulating healthy ready-to-eat meals, that means getting creative with plant-based fare and any accompanying sauces, spreads, dips, or marinades.
For example, stuffed vegetables – stuffed peppers, stuffed cabbage rolls, and traditional Mexican dishes like chiles en nogada – are making serious waves (National Restaurant Association 2024). Lean into the southwestern vibes; consider a stuffed bell pepper entree with Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Sauce for a hearty, savory choice.
Nutrient-dense root vegetables are another popular choice, lending themselves especially well to mouthwatering glazes, which can be formulated specifically for healthy ready meals. Picture a roasted parsnip and carrot dish topped with a savory-sweet Honey-Orange Glaze for an added level of complexity.
Get Creative with Spiral Veggie Kits
Health-conscious consumers are increasingly interested in boosting the veggie content of everyday dinners. Spiralized vegetable dishes are an easily customizable option for healthy vegetarian ready-made meals, with a virtually unlimited number of possibilities for custom sauces. Not only are spiral veggie kits a popular option for their nutrient density; they’re also an affordable pick for customers who might be worried about grocery spending. Below are two of our favorite applications:
● Sweet Potato Spirals with Coconut Curry Sauce: Adventurous, globally-minded shoppers won’t be able to resist a rich and aromatic Coconut Curry Sauce made from coconut milk, curry paste, lime juice, garlic, and ginger, formulated to perfectly complement the sweet potato’s rich, earthy notes.
● Spiral Zucchini with Pesto Sauce: Zucchini noodles are a healthy, delicious option for spiral veggie kits. Add to the veggie’s natural brightness with a delicious Pesto made of basil, garlic, and olive oil, with a light dusting of vegan cheese on top.
Explore Plant-Based Protein Options for Ready Meals
33% of consumers report eating more plant-based proteins now than they were two years ago (Technomic, 2023). Vegetarian ready meals are the perfect opportunity to dive into this trend, with endless possibilities for flavorful sauces, dips, and dressings to enhance the taste and texture of plant-based proteins.
Not sure how to capitalize on the trend? Consider sauces like tahini, which is consumers’ go-to drizzle of choice for veggies and bowls (Datassential 2024). Give it a try with a Mediterranean chickpea bowl, offering a flavorful combination of protein-packed chickpeas, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives, red onion, and fresh herbs parsley and mint, and dressed with creamy, complex Tahini Dressing.
You can also reimagine tofu, one of the staples of plant-based protein options for healthy ready meals. Here’s one example: a teriyaki tofu bowl featuring cubes of tofu marinated in a sweet and savory Teriyaki Sauce, served with steamed rice or quinoa, and stir-fried vegetables for an extra layer of nutritional goodness.
Healthy Proteins for Flexitarians
We’re seeing more and more consumers shift toward a “flexitarian” lifestyle, or opting for plant-based picks most of the time with occasional room for healthy meat-based proteins. These consumers might be more likely to pick low-fat options like chicken and seafood, both of which work as great toppings for ready meals like salads – especially when paired with spicier ingredients like peppers and chili flakes.
Consider, for example, a Crispy Chicken Poblano Salad: A combination of fresh romaine and kale, crispy chicken, delicious cotija cheese, avocado, roasted corn, and a Smoky Poblano Ranch make this a delicious pick for meat eaters, flexitarians, and everyone in between.
Is your brand excited to explore the world of healthy ready meals? Our custom sauces, dips, spreads, and marinades can improve taste and texture. We’re your expert guide for culinary creativity and global flavor profiles, especially when it comes to trending picks like plant-based, healthy ready meals. Reach out to the Giraffe Foods team to capitalize on this growing trend today.
