How can brands tap into the mood food trend? By using natural, nutrient-dense ingredients, like freeze-dried fruits and vegetables. You can take these ingredients and whip up a tasty offering that boasts a wide range of benefits, like brain health, anxiety reduction or mental clarity. To expand your audience and improve the mood of a larger crowd, begin by innovating a creative twist on indulgences that incorporates elements that are high in vitamins and minerals.
Check out three in-demand benefits of mood food:

1. Stress-Relief
Full of antioxidants and vitamins, fruits and vegetables have been found to minimize feelings of stress2, helping to deliver a comforting calm that will keep your customers feeling their best.

2. Energy Boost
Whether it’s a nutritious oatmeal to start the day right or a mid-day snack to avoid the 3PM slump, adding proven energy boosting benefits can give your products that extra something shoppers can trust and feel good about.

3. Sleep-Aid
You have an opportunity to take nutritious ingredients containing proven natural sleep-inducing qualities and help your customers overcome a challenge millions face every night — all without upping the nation’s dependence on sleep medications. Among the most common natural solutions for helping you fall asleep and wake well-rested are fruits and veggies like sour cherries, bananas, pineapples, kiwi, carrots, and ginger.

When using natural ingredients, like freeze-dried fruits and vegetables, that provide the benefits shoppers want most, your team can do its part to improve their daily lives in a nutritious and noticeable way. Chaucer Foods’ portfolio of wholesome freeze-dried and baked ingredients can help you get there—making it easier to deliver in-demand benefits, without sacrificing quality, a clean label, or, most importantly, taste.
Looking for more insight on innovating mood foods for your consumers? Head over to our conversation with Aurélie Jacquet, EMEA NPD Manager, and Natty Baudrillard, NPD Project Leader at Chaucer Foods, on mood food innovation here, or contact us today to talk to our team of experts.
References:
1“The mood food movement: Meeting consumer motivations,” Food Dive. 2022.
2“Role of antioxidants in generalized anxiety disorder and depression,” National Library of Medicine. 2012.
3“The Best Foods To Help You Sleep,” Sleep Foundation. 2022.
4“Are consumers ready for sleep-support foods and beverages?” Nutritional Outlook. 2022.