INNOVATING SNACKS

S K G C N A I T SN A V Y O H N LT I N EA H

, gn l i s o e t D Scho ith c u w re od n Pr esig tion ent & D ra C ce SP labo rce n u l e co eso eri p n R I & Ex n in a tio a m v o plo Inn Di od Fo

DID YOU KNOW? Chocolate contains theobromine which can help quiet coughs by reducing the activity of the vagus nerve, the part of the brain that triggers hard-toshake coughs. Chocolate also improves blood flow as cocoa has anti-clotting, blood thinning properties which improves blood flow and circulation!

Amount of antioxidant units per 100 grams:

DID YOU KNOW? Antioxidant is a powerful substances which mostly come from the fresh fruits and vegetables that we consumed.

Antioxidant tackles free radical, which if left unchallenged, these radicals can caused a wide range of illness and chronic diseases. The recommended antioxidant intake is 1000 per day.

DID YOU KNOW? Powder mix comes in different type of snacks, such as drinks, cereal, smoothie, instant soup, and instant porridge. Powder mix is a convenient beverage as just hot water is needed. Each powder mix contains different amount of proteins, minerals and vitamins to fulfil each meal.

DID YOU KNOW? The first plate of chips were made to spite a customer of a restaurant, but it turned out to be a huge success! Crispy and crunchy are two different things! Crispy textures last only a few bites and produced higher pitched sounds whereas crunchy textures produce louder sounds and longer sensations.

T H E

C H A R A C T E R I S T I C S

O F

energy bars Fit Crunch cookies and cream 190 calories

Nestle Milo snack bar with milk 460 calories

Nature Valley oats and honey 190 calories

Slim Secret morning rev-up!

134 calories

Supreme Protein caramel nut chocolate 200 calories

F&N Alive Energiser almond nut bar 163 calories

Slim Secret afternoon snack attack!

133 calories

Supreme Protein apple cinnamon 190 calories

YOGOOD wildberries muesli bar 96 calories

Slim Secret mintabolism boost 136 calories

F&N Alive Boost whole grain muesli bar 136 calories

Soy Joy raisin almond 111 calories

DID YOU KNOW? Energy bars are targeted at people who requires energy at an instant but do not have time for a meal. These bars usually contain ingredients which is high in calories and proteins such as cereal, nuts, preserved fruits and many more. They are different from energy drinks, which contain caffeine, whereas bars provide food energy.

DID YOU KNOW? What’s the difference when vegetables are in the form of crunchy and crispy like chips ? A calorie calculation was conducted based on the serving size per packet in comparison with the vegetables and we’ve found that vegetable chips would have provide more energy as compared to vegetables.

I N

A C C O R D A N C E

T O

2 0 0

nuts

C A L O R I E S

DID YOU KNOW? Nuts are small sized and usually consumed as a snack or toppings. There are different methods of preparation like toasting and drying them for tastier option. The above shows the various types of nuts and healthier alternatives - namely almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios and walnuts which contains the nutrients that are required in a healthy dietary pattern.

Foreword

Youths today are exposed to a plethora of snacks. You will find an endless array of variety of snacks in the super-markets. It is interesting to just consider how snacks have developed with such sophistication in terms of the types, their forms, tastes, ingredients, texture and the context of consuming snacks.

In collaboration with the Food Innovation and Research Centre (FIRC), this 15-week learning journey enabled students to develop their research techniques and insight translation in relation to youth’s snacking habits as well as their notion of food and health. Students are challenged to look into various trending areas relevant to youths such as, their nocturnal lifestyle, their pursuit for beauty in body and skin, part-time working vs studying, as well as social media and food trends for youths.

Through a series of design research exercises, students gathered interesting findings about youths. These findings were then synthesised as key insights, before they were translated into relevant experiential healthy snacking concepts. This publication compiles the research and insights about youths today, and the design concepts on healthier snacks developed by the students in this studio.

Enjoy the tidbits!

Winston Chai August 2015

10

Content 10

24

40

Foreword

Health Nuts CHARLES ANG

Bringing Food Concepts To Reality

YEO XUE TING

FIRC

12

30

44

Thousand Likes

Weight Conscious Youth

Credits

GOH JEE YAN

SITI NABILAH BINTE ROSLI

PHYLLIS GAN

VIVIEN FOO

18

34

46

Achieve The Look

The ‘Eating’ Nocturnals

Acknowledgments

SEAH LI PING

KWEK AI LING

TEO HUI WEN

VALERIE KOH

WINSTON CHAI

Thousand Likes

by Goh Jee Yan & Phyllis Gan

TRENDY YOUTHS They are the extroverts that are willing to accept trends and the majority are influenced by such trends Being trendy is something youths rely on to gain social acceptance.

S O C I A L A C C E P TA N C E

“

My life feels richer now that I am connected to more people through social media

by Marketing to Millennials

Social acceptance comes in various forms and majority comes from social media.

Instagram is one of the major source youth turn to for trends

12

”

One in two youths surveyed admit to trying the food, featured and raved about on their friend’s Instagram account.

ALL of the youths surveyed feel that showcasing the texture of food in their photographs, is important. E.g..

Yogurt must be properly shaped/ they prefer posting cake over biscuits because of the texture.

YOUTH X TRENDS Instagram

Seven out of eight youths surveyed claim to take outfit centred Instagram photo with food such as packet of potato chips, Starbucks, waffles, etc (hand held food)

ALL of the youths surveyed are willing to fork out more money to purchase certain food items, so that they will be able to “flaunt” online.

Six out of eight youths surveyed feel that yogurt/soft serve ice cream is the trending food item.

Seven out of eight youths surveyed believe that featuring the food served takes precedence over the brand/location the food is served at because it is about highlighting “how appealing the food is, so they will be tempted to try too”

Six out of eight youths surveyed place high importance on portraying themselves as “unique individuals” online. This is achieved by showing originality in their Instagram posts (i.e. unique angle, exotic food)

Six out of eight youths surveyed consider hues and food colour an important factor.

TRENDS • Trend lasts for 5 months • Example of trends: Donuts, Soft Serve & Korean dessert - Bingsu • Similarity in Trend: Toppings

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Feeding our Likes I N D I V I D U A L I T Y Youths are very particular about how they present themselves online

FOOD P H O T O G R A P H Y Symmetrical photographs are an upcoming trend.

14

B O W L O F G O O D N E S S Vibrancy and freshness are the reasons that youths consider when posting healthy snacks.

TOPPINGS Throughout the various trends, one thing that never change is the offer of different choices of toppings.

YOUTH’S NOTION OF H E A L T H Youths trick themselves into thinking whenever a fruit is consumed with any flavoured sauce or cream, it is healthy.

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Tapesy

by Goh Jee Yan Since plating is another factor to consider before posting a picture up on social media, I have designed a roll that allows us, trendy youths, to decorate our ‘canvas’ before consuming it. This give youths the individuality they look for and bringing out their uniqueness. It does not only make your food more appealing, there is an essence of healthiness too. It can act as a replacement of different toppings such as, on desserts, cereal or even on vegetable sticks to give a bit of sweetness to it. Tapesy is a fun way to contribute a bit of vibrant colour to the visual presentation and to interact with the food as well.

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Skinnydip

by Phyllis Gan Majority of the youths yearns to be unique individuals and targeting their need to post unique Insta-worthy pictures, Skinnydip offers youths a healthy snack option, yet at the same time satisfy their social need - a photo worthy packaging for a photo worthy picture. The flavours Skinnydip provides ranges from sweet to salty, to please the different unique taste buds. The pleasing colours of Skinnydip also offer youths a variety of options to suit the theme of their photo feed, at the same time a variety of angles to choose from for the most #instaworthy photo.

Each flavour also comes with a unique hash tag to give more exposure to Instagrammers who use the hash tag.

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“ B E A U T Y I S WO M E N ’ S G R E AT E S T A S S E T ”

BY SEAH LI PING & TEO HUI WEN Beauty is an important aspect for youths, especially for young w o m e n . We c o n d u c t e d o u r r e s e a r c h s u r v e y t o u n d e r s t a n d h o w y o u n g w o m e n i n S i n g a p o r e ‘ c o n s u m e ’ t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f b e a u t y.

WHY WOMEN? global beauty business is $ 3 8 3 ofsuppor ted by approximately

BILLION

85% female consumer base.

Women are 93% more likely to be concer ned about their appearance as compared to men.

FA M I LY O F C O S M E T I C S Out of our 10 inter viewees 8 own a variety of make up products.

100 %

o f o u r i nt e r v i e w e e s agr e e tha t skin is a n im p o r ta nt a sp e c t o f b e a uty

1 00 %

o f o u r i nt e r v i e w e e s u se m a ke up to e nha nc e the ir fe a tur e s a nd co nc e al f l aw s o n t he i r f ac e .

8 7. 5%

o f o u r i nt e r v i e w e e s ar e w illing to sp e nd m o ne y o n c o sm e tic s t o s u ppl e m e nt be au t y.

In order to satisfy their wants, they buy a variety of beauty products. Women like to achieve the per fect look for ever y occasion. Ever y occasion to them is impor tant and they will apply the appropriate amount of cosmetic to doll themselves up.

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BA S I C M A K E - U P

ROUTINE

3

2 1

M O I S TU R I S E R

P RIM ER

SUNBL OCK

Provides all-day hydrates and creates a healthy moisture barrier against irritants.

Primer smooth, flatter, conceal and creates a ‘base coat’ to allow flawless and long-lasting make-up coverage.

It provides superior protection from skin aging effects of the sun and keeps skin hydrated all day.

4

6

5 CONCEAL ER

FO U N D ATI O N

7

EY EBROW P ENCIL

Cover dark spots or blemishes with concealer that matches your natural skin tone/foundation colour

Even out the skin tone.

Sometimes used to alter the skin’s natural colour/tone.

8

Draw the ideal eyebrow shape that complicates your face shape.

9

BL USH It reddens the cheeks so as to provide a more youthful appearance, and to emphasize the cheekbones.

M A S CA R A It helps to enhance the eyes. Used to darken, thicken, lengthen, and define the eyelashes.

L IP ST ICK Lipstick applies colours texture and protection to your lips.

BA S I C S K I N CA R E

ROUTINE

1

2

EYE MAKE-UP REMOVER

Removes dirt, oil and makeup on your face.

Cleanses away heavy make up left on your face.

4 Toner helps to add a layer of protection and balances the pH level for the skin. It also shrinks pores, moisturises and refreshed your face.

FACE CL EANSER After removing makeup, the cleanses is used to remove all excess dirt, oil and makeup thoroughly.

This helps to unclog pores and prevent skin conditions, such as acne.

It quickly and easily removes eye makeup without irritating the eyes.

It is particularly effective against long-lasting or waterproof eye makeup.

M A KE-U P R E M O V E R

FA C E TO N E R

3

6 5

M OIST URISER All day hydration creates a healthy moisture barrier to better resist irritants.

FACE MASK End your day with a face mask! Facial masks treat your skin type or skin condition.

Hence, we conclude that routine and variety are key features of beauty . Therefore, we decided to design a family of snacks that follow a certain routine to enhance beauty in different aspects.

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EATING

beauty “ MAYBE YOU SHOULD TRY TO EAT MAKE-UP, SO YOU CAN BEAUTI FUL ON THE I NSI DE. ” WHAT ARE BEAUTY SNACKS? Beauty snacks are healthy snacks that contain full vitamin and nutrients, such as omega-3 Fatty Acids and other antioxidants. These snacks help consumers attain a flawless complexion by diminishing the presence of acne, pimples and wrinkles.

BEVERAGE AS A BEAUTY SNACK

7 5 % of our in t e r vie we e s p r e f e r t o d r i n k r a t h e r t h a n e a t , b e a u t y s n a c k s .

Through our primar y research, many of our inter viewees prefer to “consume beauty” by drinking and swallowing over to eating. Women seek convenience when consuming snacks as well.

WHAT ARE BEAUTY BEVERAGES?

Many of our inter viewees seek convenience while snacking. Because drinking is the most efficient way to consume. Therefore, we decided to design a beverage that enhances the beauty experience.

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Relevance to Beauty Healthy snacks are loaded with vitamins, nutrients, fibre, p r o t e i n s a n d a r e l o w i n c a l o r i e s a n d s u g a r. T h e y a l s o c o n t a i n a n t i o x i d a n t s w h i c h a i d d i g e s t i o n a n d d e t o x i f i c a t i o n o f t h e b o d y, which in turn provide good complexion and anti-aging treatment for the skin.

K E Y I N G R E D I E N TS FO R B E A U T Y S N AC KS

Berries are rich in vitamin C and other antioxidants, which helps diminish the presence of wrinkles, sagging skin and discolouration. They also prevent toxins and free radicals from entering the body. Raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and blackberries are great options to snack on during the day especially, sumptuous as a yoghurt topping.

Nuts are rich in antioxidants and Vitamin E. These help the skin to retain moisture and increase blood circulation. They also contain Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Selenium, both of which help to attain youthful skin.

Honey and lemon drinks aid in purifying the blood as well as the production of new blood cells that act as cleaning agents to provide dewy-looking skin.

Honey penetrates deeply into the skin, and absorbs impurities from the pores to keep the skin fresh, smooth and wrinkle free. Lemon works as a great exfoliator and preventor of acne, sun burn and other blemishes.

Roses contain high levels of Vitamin C and are rich in oils

and protein. These help keep the skin soft and moisturised. They also help remove dark spots and increase pore stability, therefore, reducing clogging and balancing the pH level of the skin. An overly acidic epidermal pH level causes breakouts. Rosebud tea also reduces oil production of the skin.

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BY SEAH LI PING The experience of “beauty� often revolves around being in balance and harmony with nature, which may lead to feelings of attraction and emotional well-being. Women feel calm and relax when they put on a cooling facial mask, embrace splashes of cold water or consume cold drinks to freshen up themselves. Therefore, cooling and refreshing snacks excite women and allow them to feel instant beauty.

Paletti-Pops is a set of 4 popsicles that are consumed as a beauty snack to relax and regenerate your skin. They are made with the finest, freshest and all organic natural fruits, vegetables and nuts.

Paletti-Pops comes in 4 flavours, namely the blueberry-beetroot, strawberry-watermelon, mango-pineapple and kiwi-spinach and they are for moisturising, rejuvenation, glowing and brightening and anti-aging respectively. A layer of walnuts, cashew nuts and pistachio nuts are mixed in between the bottom layers for extra crunch!

Paletti-Pop is designed as a tall rectangular form consisting different tones of a colour. The clear acrylic popsicle holders come in textures to enhance the experience when eating Paletti-Pops.

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Beauty Series

BY TEO HUI WEN Research has shown that many women beautify themselves through the use of make-up. They go through the daily routine of putting on makeup in the day and then removing makeup later in the night.

Beauty Series consists of 2 sets of different flavoured jellies, namely ‘The Rejuvenator’ and ‘The Recuperator’, which enhances beauty through refreshment and healing respectively.

Berries, lemon and almond are rich in vitamin C and have anti-aging properties. Hence, these ingredients are used in the jellies of ‘The Rejuvenator’. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, aloe vera, red dates and chrysanthemum have healing properties and are hence used in the jellies of ‘The Recuperator’.

All jellies are packed into transparent cheerpacks that is highly convenient and enables users to drink directly from the spout.

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HEALTH NUTS

BY CHARLES ANG & YEO XUE TING

The following report summarises the habits, insights, and interesting facts that enable readers to understand health conscious youths.

Based on our one-to-one interviews with 8 youths aged 18 to 27, we gathered interesting insights on their healthy lifestyle, motivations and habits to stay healthy. We managed to identify and distinguish two types of youths - Sports and dietary nutrition based. Besides their common habits highlighted on this page, their individual and unique habits are documented on the following pages.

Using these valuable insights, we forged three design direction statements to proceed on with.

SPORTS NUTS Fitness freaks who rely on exercising over food to stay healthy. Consists mostly males and students.

MUSCLE GAUGE y

Muscles & well toned bodies act as their “Body Image Gauge�.

milk

High carbs for energy, protein for muscle recovery, calcium for strong bones, fruits as a healthy sweetener.

Pre/post sport (30mins) Common Breakfasts 24

c

milk

c

sports

Thirst quenchers

drink

& energy bars.

Milk & Cereal, Fruits, Juice, toast or bread.

c

9

sports drink

milk

y

nutrition NUTS Knowledgeable about their dietary intake, stays healthy through detox and slimming. Mostly females, and working young adults.

Weight GAUGE Collagen rich food like tomato, honey & Soy milk.

kg

digestion helpers like watermelon, papaya & bananas.

Their weight, body & skin act as their “body Image gauge�. antioxidants & weight loss helpers like nuts, berries, citrus fruits.

Detox drinks appetite suppressants

plain water, lemon water, tea, veggie & fruit juice, avocado smoothies.

Caffeine from coffee & Chocolate, & berries as healthy sweeteners.

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Top 3 motivations to keep healthy

01

body image Youths are very particular about their appearance.

02

emotion boost They feel confident and good being healthy.

03

physical condition Youths stay healthy to keep up with sports.

Daily habits 500 ml

500 ml

500 ml

500 ml

zzz

c

Breakfast is king

Sleep early, rise early

staying hydrated

Starting the day off with a filled tummy is the way to go!

Lots of water drunk for cleaning and staying hydrated for sports.

Getting approx. 8 hours of sleep to wake up fresh and make breakfast.

Reasons for snacking

87%

63%

Craving triggered

pre/post exercise

50%

38%

between meals 26

night munchies

two kinds of health nuts: sports & dietary nutrition

out of 8 interviewees

60% Interviewees are sports nuts

40% Interviewees are nutrition nuts

Design directions 1

energy boosting breakfast A viscous snack, consumed during breakfast, that can be refrigerated and that provides sufficient energy, carbohydrates, protein and calcium. The snack should be consumed cold with natural sweeteners, as it provides a more refreshing sensation as well as a boost at the start of the day. It should be easily consumed using a spoon or by drinking directly from the container. It should also be sealed with a peel-able cover.

Possible ingredients: Nuts, Sliced fruit, Berries, Yoghurt milk, Granola

2

detox drink A detox drinkable snack that allows one to customise it based on their own detoxifying needs, as nutritional nuts has the daily routine to make and consume their own detox drink at the start of the day so as to feel healthier throughout the whole day.

Possible ingredients: Citrus fruits, Green vegetables, Lemon, Green tea

3

Appetite suppressing bites A fruit and carbohydrate-based, bite-size snack. The interior of the snack could be made out of biscuit or fruit, while the exterior is coated with dark chocolate to provide a boost in energy. Psychologically, a snack containing fruits as one of its ingredients causes consumers to deem the snack as ‘healthy’. Multiple bite-sized portions also increases portability and frequency of consumption as youths tend to indulge between meals regularly.

Possible ingredients: Dark chocolate, Fruits, Biscuits or dough

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CRACKER SMITH

BY CHARLES ANG CrackerSmith is a series of oatmeal biscuit bowls, designed for Sporty Youths. It intends to enhance their morning preparation experience, while also encouraging youths to ‘craft’ their own personalized snack.

Easily distinguished by their lean and well built physique, these youths are a common sight in Singapore’s youths. The exercise common traits where adhere to a clean diet, active lifestyle and prioritize their breakfast.

As such, these biscuit bowls acts not only as convenient snack consumed on-the-go, but also as a vessel to contain ingredients otherwise requiring plating or greasy hands - like salmon or a bunch of berries.

The project began with exploring healthy variations of sweeteners and calories, ranging from pure honey, organic wheat, to rice. Organic oatmeal and pure honey was used due to its popularity. Different forms and sizes were experimented before adopting a hexagon shape, giving it a precise and proportioned look to appeal to Sporty Youths. Its capacity to contain food and be hand held was also taken into utmost consideration.

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YOGHURT

SMOOTHIE CUBES

BY YEO XUE TING Detoxing is an important daily routine which allows Health Nuts to feel healthier and enhance their beauty. They consume detox drinks especially in the morning, and each individual has different detoxifying needs. Thus, Smoothie Cubes is designed to cater to each individual’s detoxifying needs as well as facilitating ease of preparation.

Based off our research, Health Nuts tend to consume lemon water or green tea to detox. Hence, I have included these as part of the ingredients. From a wide array of natural ingredients, the main ingredients used for are berries. Being rich in antioxidants, berries are top-notch detox ingredients which do not oxidise. Aside from this, different flavors were explored such as ginger, tea or cinnamon. Chia seeds, orange pulp and lemon zest are added for additional texture.

Much like yogurt shops, Smoothie Cubes is a retail concept, where customers is allowed to freely customise their own smoothie. By selecting a specific number of cubes for a cup of smoothie, to suit their detoxifying needs. Customers are also allowed to takeaway a pack of cubes so they can easily blend their own smoothie simply by tossing the cubes into the blender, without the need of cutting or cleaning the fruits itself.

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WEIGHT CONSCIOUS YOUTH AND SNACKING BEHAVIOUR

by Siti Nabilah Rosli & Vivien Foo It is a well-known fact that youth are particularly self conscious at this stage in life, due to constant peer pressure, stress and urges to fit in the societal norm. As such, it has led to an increasing number of youths being more weight conscious. Our research project aims to study and understand the food consumption and snacking lifestyle of weight conscious youth. We conducted an online survey with 45 youths, along with 8 interviewees that are between the age of 18-23 to question and understand their notion of weight maintainance in relation to food consumption.

SURVEY DATA 82% ARE Weight Conscious

Common dieting trend among youth 44% eat more fruits of Youths - Fruits contain protein which can-

keep you full.

- Citrus fruit contains acid that helps digestion.

68% RECeiVE CommentS on their weight 62% ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THEIR FIGURE 78% ASPIRE TO BE 'LEAN' 62% WANTS TO Lose weight

29% Reduce fatty food and fizzy of Youth drinks 20% Reduces snack intake of Youth when they are dieting

-Lessen snack intake means lesser calorie intake.

73% of participants STILL snackS

INSIGHTS and directions Snack as breakfast

DESIGN Direction

“there is no time for breakfast!”

“To lose weight, you ned to eat less and work out more!”

Breakfast snacks that can provide energy for the rest of the morning.

Snack as breakfast OR skip breakfast?

From the interview, 7 out of 8 snack as breakfast or skip breakfast. They usually snack on something that is soft which is more easily eaten wheWn they are not fully awake.

tv snacking

DESIGN Direction

“The moment I sit down and watch TV, I begin to crave for food in my mouth!”

A snack that fulfills their urge to munch without gaining weight.

Snacking and watching television?

From the interview, 7 out of 8 youths snacks while watching television. The youth tend to prefer snacks that can produce crunch sound.

Guilt effect

DESIGN Direction

“The guilt I feel after indulgence is horrible, as I can never stop!”

To design a snack youths would like to indulge in with low sugar and calories so as to avoid weight gain.

Indulgence level?

From the interview, youths indulge in sweet snacks regularly, on an average of 1-2 times per week.

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Pancakes

For BREAKFAST

by Vivien Foo

Pancakes

Sauce

Tasty, light, fluffy, and most important aspect of all, healthy, is what Guilt-Free Pancakes is all about. While it might sound easy to make a pancake, it is however a brainstorming task to introduce “healthy” in a pancake.

Through intensive research and experiments were we able to overcome such challenges, and this is the result of our Guilty-Free Pancakes.

Berry sauce was the first prototype. However, the intensive flavor of the berries was not well received by our testers, thus, it lead towards the creation of the classic vanilla sauce. Vanilla is generally more accepted by the masses as compared to berries. To top it off, fresh blueberries are added, as it is low in calories and sugar, and contain the high antioxidant capacity of all commonly consumed fruits and vegetables.

Importance of breakfast

why pancakes?

If one skips breakfast, their sugar level will drop, causing hunger, which leads to impulsive eating or having a bigger portion for their next meal. As a general guideline, breakfast should be between 350 – 400 calories to boost one’s metabolism and help carry through till their next meal.

Pancake is a stapled breakfast food and is also one of the well-loved hipster foods that are commonly found in cafés. Besides this, reports have shown that there in an increasing trend in start-up cafés specialising in pancakes.

Pancake concept is even used by organisations to support socially and financially disabled children, which shows its popularity among the masses regarding pancake consumption.

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Prototype Designs FORMS

by Siti Nabilah Rosli The design of the bread is inspired by the form of a baguette. Modifications were made by making thin strips and plaited to form a hollow core. The form of the bread appears to be small in volume but yet fulfilling the energy needed and the recommended calorie intake for the weight conscious youth during breakfast.

Prototype 1 Small, Round.

Plaited yet it looks bulky.

Prototype 2 Plaited like donut, uneven strips plaited.

Prototype 3 Longer three strips of plaits hence it looks bigger in size.

Prototype 4 More thin strips, but the form looks big in size.

Prototype 5 More multiple strips, form still looks similar from previous.

Prototype 6 Made more strips in different form.

Prototype 7 Made it from multiple strips and form is like a bar shape.

Prototype 8 Make multiple form from the same number of strips.

Prototype 9 Made more form with it.

Prototype 10 More thin strips, it looks thick and big.

Prototype 11 Lesser strips but form is big because of the size limit.

Prototype 12 Lesser strips but the way its plaited is different.

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Prototype 13 and 14 With the idea from previous prototype 12, I made it hollow to have it look smaller in amount with the help of a metal pole where thin and long dough strips were wrapped around the pole.

LA PETIT BREADFAST FOR WEIGHT CONSCIOUS YOUTH The concept for the breakfast bread snack, La Petit Breadfast is for the weight conscious youth. Any type of bread is a breakfast snack to the targeted youth because it is soft and small in amount. La Petit Breadfast is a unique bread, full of energy yet its form appears to be slim. It helps the weight conscious youth to feel full which will last them till the next meal. The bread helps to solve the problem where the majority tends to skip breakfast or eat too little as a result it will make them feel hungry quickly and thus would affect the youth to eat a lot later part of the day. It is lower in calories recommended intake so that the weight conscious youth will be able to consume their drink and other little snack without worrying how much they have eaten. So by eating La Petit Breadfast, it would encourage the weight conscious youth to consume the slim breadfast snack in the morning.

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THE ‘EATING’ NOCTURNALS

BY KWEK AI LING & VALERIE KOH

DIGITAL NATIVES WHO ARE IN THE HABIT OF SNACKING AFTER 11PM Digital technology has altered youths’ lifestyle. Youths spend substantial amount of time and attention on the digital, engulfed in social media, online shopping, gaming, etc. This has altered the food consumption habits as youths spend lesser ‘dining table’ time and more often in front of screens. Hence, their choice of food is very much influenced by their digital activities. Youths’ lifestyle has also shifted to a later time due to the preference of nocturnal activities.

The generation of people born during or after the rise of technologies.

In order to further understand the lifestyle habits and snacking preferences of youths, we conducted an interview with 4 studying youths and 4 working youths aged between 15 to 25 years old. Through our interviews, we gathered that:

LIFESTYLE YOUTHS SPEND AN AVERAGE OF 0.5 HOURS TO 3 HOURS ON DIGITAL MEDIA RIGHT BEFORE SLEEPING.

YOUTHS SLEEP BETWEEN 12 AM TO 3AM DAILY.

6 OUT OF 8 YOUTHS SNACK WHILE USING DIGITAL MEDIA. 34

LOCATION

12% SNACK OUTSIDE

TOP 3 REASONS PEOPLE SNACK LATE AT NIGHT

30% 58%

SNACK BOTH AT HOME AND OUTSIDE

SNACK AT HOME

Hunger 29% Skipped dinner 19% Late-night work 13%

SNACKS ARE USUALLY CONSUMED:

71% 44% ALONE

FRIENDS

39%

33%

10%

PARENTS

SIGNIFICANT OTHER

SIBLINGS

MOST COMMONLY

CONSUMED SNACKS

24% 39% 19% 30% 20%

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INSIGHTS AND DESIGN DIRECTIONS

Through our primary and secondary research, we have gathered and consolidated our findings with regard to late night snacking, into the following key insights and translated them to design directions to direct us in developing healthy snacks to cater to the ‘eating nocturnals’ .

Definitions and explanations are included to enable better understanding of the key words.

BEHAVIOUR-BASED INSIGHTS Different types of snacks are eaten based on what activity they are doing. For example, youths tend to be more inclined to consume food that only require one hand to eat, in order to avoid dirtying their assignments.

These foods are generally chewy and long-lasting snacks as the action of chewing helps keep them awake.

DESIGNING HEALTHY SNACKS AS A NOURISHING FOOD THAT ENHANCES CONCENTRATION BY INCREASING AND SUSTAINING FOCUS/ALERTNESS DURING LATE-NIGHT STUDYING. Nourishing food consists of substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition. These food are typically real food, which are food that are simple, unprocessed and whole. The main few substances that enhances concentration, focus and alertness are antioxidants, B-vitamins, omega-3 and caffeine.

Wolf berries, blueberries and walnuts contains antioxidants, which stimulate the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain, keeping the mind fresh and hence boosting focus. Red dates, bananas, flax seeds are rich in B-vitamins, which helps improve cognitive functioning of the brain, helping memory focus and overall brain health and power. Walnuts, pumpkin seeds and salmon contains high amounts of Omega-3, which helps improve cognitive functioning of the brain, increasing the ability to think and focus. Lastly, green tea, dark chocolate and spinach consists of moderate amounts of caffeine, which contains L-theanine, which increases alertness, reaction time and memory.

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BEHAVIOUR-BASED INSIGHTS Late-night snacking helps youth unwind from a stressful day.

PERCEPTION-BASED INSIGHTS Coconut juice and fruits are eaten at night after consumption of late-night snacks to relieve heatiness.

DESIGNING HEALTHY SNACKS AS A NOURISHING FOOD THAT ENHANCES RELAXATION AND RELIEVES HEATINESS FROM THE BODY. Increasing pleasurable feelings and decreasing stress levels channels to relax. This can be achieved by consuming food containing tryptophan, potassium, vitamin B6 and omega-3. Tryptophan helps in the production of serotonin, a hormone that induces a feeling of pleasure. Chicken contains high amounts of tryptophan! Potassium helps fight of stress hormones in the body, leading to a soothing relief on the brain. Foods with potassium includes red dates, honey, banana. Oatmeal, nuts and seeds contains vitamin B6, an anti-stress vitamin. Celery helps to lower blood pressure. Lastly, cold water fish such as salmon and tuna are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help boost serotonin, suppressing the production of anxiety-related hormones (cortisol and adrenaline).

Heatiness and cooling effect of foods refer to the capacity to generate hot or cold sensations in our body. ‘Heaty’ (yang) food are grown under the hot sun, sweet, contains lots of fats, rich in sodium and is hard, dry or spicy whereas on the other hand, ‘cooling’ (yin) food are grown in little sunshine, salty, lean, rich in potassium, soft and wet. Examples of ‘heaty’ food are chocolate and ice cream and ‘cooling’ food are winter melon and tea.

BEHAVIOUR-BASED INSIGHTS People associate being at home with feelings of comfort. Therefore, they tend to care less about the consequences of not-so-healthy food choices. Eating while watching shows (mindless eating) tends to result in overeating, regardless of whether the snack is healthy or not.

DESIGNING HEALTHY SNACKS AS COMFORT FOOD, THAT ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE OF LATE-NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT.

PERCEPTION-BASED INSIGHTS

Comfort food are known as food that provides consolation or a feeling of well-being, which typically contains high sugar or carbohydrate content and associated with childhood or home cooking. Nutritional influences affect the food through the body powerfully. Individuals eat to regulate emotions and vice versa, which results in increased intake of sweet, high fat foods.

Late-night snacking is believed to be fattening. Yakult and yogurt are considered ‘healthy’ snacks.

Studies indicate that restrained eaters increase food intake, emotional eaters consume more sweet, high-fat foods, and binge eaters tend to binge in response to negative emotions.

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SOUPERNOURISH SOUP SERIES DESIGNING HEALTHY SNACKS AS A NOURISHING FOOD THAT ENHANCES CONCENTRATION BY INCREASING AND SUSTAINING FOCUS DURING LATE NIGHT STUDYING. Most youths today lead a hectic lifestyle and would often study into the wee hours. From the view of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the act of staying up late at night disrupts the necessary replenishment of ‘yin’ (cooling) energy and one’s bodily fluids. This results in ‘yin’ deficiency in our major body organ systems, causing uncomfortable symptoms such as thirstiness, sore throat and mouth ulcers. Moreover, many youths feed on junk food to stay awake, which further aggravates these uncomfortable symptoms.

Soupernourish is a series of two nourishing instant soup that nourishes the body and enhances concentration through the use of highly nutritious red dates. According to the Compendium of Materia Medica, red dates have been crowned as one of the ‘king of nuts’ because of its rich nutritional values. Red dates contain high amounts vitamins B1, B2 and C and minerals such as potassium, calcium, phosphorous and magnesium, which are vital in promoting healthy body functioning.

Red dates nourishes the blood and body and is hence ‘heaty’ in nature, which means it is has the capacity to generate hot sensations in the body, known as the ‘yang’ (heaty) energy. Hence, red dates are combined together with the following ‘cooling’ and ‘neutral’ ingredients to neutralise the ‘heatiness’ and complement the taste of red dates. For sweet soup, the ingredients are: glehnia root, white fungus, wolfberries and snow pear. For savoury soup, the ingredients are: button mushrooms, chicken meat, polygonatum root, white fungus and wolfberries. The red date soups warm the tummy in the cold night and nourishes the body, particularly in the throat, lungs and brains.

KWEK AI LING

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COMFORT FOOD DESIGNING HEALTHY SNACKS THAT ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE OF CONSUMING COMFORT FOOD, LATE AT NIGHT. The Comfort Food features Roti Prata as a snack due to its position as an indispensable part of Singapore’s supper culture. The Comfort Food Roti Prata snack requires consumers to add boiling water to the curry paste provided, in order to enjoy the snack. The nature of ‘Comfort Food’ requires these snacks to have a degree of preparation involved such that it evokes sensations of ‘feeling loved and cared for’ after preparation. However, as binging is a natural phenomenon that goes hand-in-hand with comfort eating, the act of preparation also deters consumers for reaching for that second pack of snack. The snack also aims to provide a healthier alternative to consumers by replacing certain ingredients such as Ghee with more wholesome ingredients such as sunflower oil. The Comfort Food is also portioned according to the recommended daily serving intake for youths.

VALERIE KOH

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BRINGING FOOD CONCEPTS TO REALITY

by Food Innovation & Resource Centre @ Singapore Polytechnic

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ABOUT FOOD Innovation & resource CENTRE ALSO KNOWN AS: FIRC OUR FACILITIES: PILOT PLANT APPLICATION LABORATORIES TEST KITCHEN SENSORY SUITE

launched in 2007

JOINT INITIATIVE: SINGAPORE POLYTECHNIC X SPRING SINGAPORE

PROVIDE TECHNICAL Expertise IN: NEW PRODUCT & PROCESS DEVELOPMENT PACKAGING SHELF LIFE EVALUATION MARKET TESTING

WE HELP CLIENTS: DEVELOP EXCITING NEW VARIANTS SOLVE MANUFACTURING Issues ADOPT NEW PRACTICES

OUR CONSULTANCY SERVICES Consumer - Centric Approach to Innovation

PRODUCT & PROCESS DEVELOPMENT

Using Design Thinking principles, we can assist our clients to elicit consumer empathy, engage in frequent prototyping and foster collaboration with the target audience for your product to discover new opportunities within the food domain.

We work closely with our clients to generate a list of potential food concepts that aligns with the idea the client has for the final product. The finalised formulation will then be scaled up at our pilot plant and/or the client’s manufacturing facility.

PACKAGING

SHELF LIFE

FIRC works with our clients to access product, process and package compatibility, ascertain barrier properties, leak and seal integrity and establish alternative material options such as lightweight packaging.

FIRC’s shelf life evaluation process assists manufacturers in selecting the appropriate ingredients, process and packaging materials to maximise product shelf life during transportation, retail display and consumer storage.

SENSORY AND CONSUMER STUDIES Our facility allows clients to investigate consumers’ opinions in food and beverage products through the use of quantitative test methods and sensory software.

APPLIED RESEARCH FIRC’s applied research team aims to create novel yet functional food ingredients and food structures from different biopolymers and their mixtures. These ingredients are developed as food processing aids for the benefit of improving human nutrition.

TRAINING PROGRAMMES FIRC offers generic, certified and customised training courses such as: WSQ Implement Advanced Food Hygiene WSQ Follow Good Food Labelling Practices WSQ Food Safety Management System

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INNOVATING HEALTHY SNACKS STUDIO X FIRC

by Food Innovation & Resource Centre @ Singapore Polytechnic

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COLLABORATION BETWEEN DIPLOMA IN EXPERIENCE AND PRODUCT DESIGN AND FOOD INNOVATION & REsource CENTRE During the fun and enjoyable course of collaboration with students from Innovating Healthy Snacks Studio, FIRC has:

Exposed and introduced students to the different facilities and functions of the machines in the test kitchen.

Shared with students their knowledge and expertise of current food trends and food production methods.

Tasted various food prototypes made by students and offered professional feedback as well as methods of improvement.

Provided facilities for students to develop their food prototypes and packaging.

Provided a platform for students to present their food concepts.

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Credits Studio Directors

Designers LECTURER

DIPLOMA IN EXPERIENCE AND PRODUCT DESIGN

Winston Chai MANAGER CONSUMER-CENTRIC INNOVATION FOOD INNOVATION & RESOURCE CENTRE

Martyn Wong

Berlyn Chua Charles Ang Goh Jee Yan Kwek Ai Ling Phyllis Gan Seah Li Ping Siti Nabilah Rosli Teo Hui Wen Valerie Koh Vivien Foo Wang Wen Yeo Xue Ting

SEAH LI PING

Studio Team STUDIO MANAGER PUBLICATION DESIGN LEAD

Kwek Ai Ling

S

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Seah Li Ping Teo Hui Wen EXHIBITION DESIGNERS

Phyllis Gan Goh Jee Yan

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GOH JEE YAN

INNOVATING HEALTHY SNACKS studio

KWEK AI LING

BERLYN CHUA

WANG WEN

WINSTON CHAI

YEO XUE TING CHARLES ANG

VALERIE KOH

TEO HUI WEN

SITI NABILAH ROSLI

VIVIEN FOO

PHYLLIS GAN MARTYN WONG

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Acknowledgments A GREAT SHOUT-OUT! We would like to express our gratitude to Food Innovation & Resource Centre and the Students from Diploma in Design and Food Technology for this successful collaboration.

A big thank you to Martyn Wong and Ngan Loong Mann Na for their time, effort and commitment. Thank you for your valuable support, insights and feedback!

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