LYRA MAG.

Part 4 Indie brands as well as the CPG giants-are re-discovering the fun airy crunchy puff-a winning -lighter texture now in real deal variety of flavors. via GIPHY Puffs-The Eating Kind Pirate's Booty- Aged White Cheddar- cheesy baked bites made with cornmeal/rice flour, cheddar cheese, buttermilk, sea salt in the mix- w/o the weird the weird greasy orange stained fingers of our youth. HAAA. Delicious-even our cat leaned in for some-Non-GMO, gluten free and Kosher too. Coincidentally- Vegan Rob's was founded by the founder of the aforementioned Pirate's Booty (now owned by B&G Foods)- had snack size bags of puffs made from more exotic plant based origins-like Jackfruit and Moringa, as well as cauliflower, brussel sprouts, beets cheddar  and--- Probiotic loaded, but spicy- Dragon Puffs-that ALL found ready grabbers at the show. .Gluten-free, Vegan, Kosher...and zero trans fat. Crunchy -airy-and delicious-organic whole grain sorghum flour and organic sunf...

TRENDS  NYC Artificial anything-particularly re: ingredients and food colorings-a disappearing act on snack food labels...even on crunchy eats which as tasty as they are, don't pretend to be nutritious-but a "Lesser Evil"-i.e. baked, healthier oils, non-GMO, organic (the real deal kind-USDA certified), and gluten free. The name says it all "Lesser Evil"=Buddha Bowl Foods...USDA organic (that means non-GMO certified too)...in one of the 'hot' food categories-gourmet salts...Himalayan Pink Salt  (or Sea Salt) on everything... Bottom Line: the emphasis is def. on the flavors (spicy is big)...and the textures. Highlights: Some crunchy sweets: From Morocco-crunchy buttery Orientines  Palmiers+crackery Craquants  Dip-able hybrid-melba toast- biscotti fusion- Almondina Toastees -no preservatives, no cholesterol, dairy free...4 flavors the best part of brownies - duh -the crunchy top-edges parts---violà-this genius 'invention...

NEW TRENDS: NYC: Even a casual shopper can't help but notice the gobs of drinkable/eatable, Greek and regular, yogurt style products in the diary or natural foods section of most retail food outlets...even notching up more fridge shelf space than sodas-at a few local, grab and go spots. DRINK IT UP Some new offerings in that category... noticeably with less artificial sweeteners=plenty of protein, in a category with no signs of slowing down... Form Stonyfield -one of the earliest USDA organic yogurt mass marketed brands...3 OP protein smoothies-  with 15 grams of protein, 5 active yogurt cultures-non-GMO, NO hormones, NO pesticides, and gluten free Blue Isle Yogurt Drinks -4 flavors -joins convenient chip dip ready- Blue Isles yogurt spreads (they don't not have the MSG like another competitor)...all distributed by a second generation owned central Ca. company Karoun Dairies . COACH FARMS-is one of the earliest local NY purveyors of delicious...