Healthy Options: Good 4 U

themselves. That’s why I started NutriQuick,” noted Dean Siney, founder of NutriQuick. “Our meals are for people who want something quick, convenient, and healthy.”

Other tasty, healthy dinners available in Aldi include the One Pot Brazilian Black Bean Stew With Tomato, Cashew & Quinoa and One Pot West African Peanut & Chickpea With Red Rice. Vegan, glutenfree and low in calories, each of these stews contain two of your recommended five a day.

Thanks Plants

Irish brand Thanks Plants have a full meatless meat range, from sausages to burgers and their famous Everyday Roast, served with the usual roast trimmings of vegetables and potatoes.

Started by Aisling Cullen in response to the lack of meat substitutes available in supermarkets in Ireland, the Thanks Plants range are vegan products that are both meaty in taste and made from wholefood ingredients. “I turned vegan a few years ago and was underwhelmed by the choice and quality of products available,” Aisling explains. “I also found it hard to understand the list of ingredients on the packets. I started experimenting at home and made my own seitan sausages which were really tasty and had the all-important meaty flavour and texture. I also knew exactly what was going into them and ensured it was only wholesome nutritious ingredients.”

The Thanks Plants range started with three types of sausages -

Healthy Options: Good 4 U

Apple & Sage, Sundried Tomato & Herb and The Frankfurter - made from a simple mix of seitan flour (a high protein flour), cannellini beans, vegetables and spices. The range has now expanded to include Chipotle Salsa Sausages, NoMoooo Burger, Everyday Roast and the seasonal Festive Roast. All products are handmade in a professional kitchen in Dublin by Aisling and her team.

Rudd’s

The Rudd’s brand has long stood for breaking ground within the artisan food world in Ireland. In 1973, Rudd’s embarked on a culinary adventure and the creativity continues to this day. Rudd’s have recently revealed a new look, giving the brand a more modern refreshed feel, as well as an updated range of products to meet all customer needs.

The new look makes it easier to navigate the customer’s needs, and includes a lean and functional option in Eat Well, as well as some plant-based alternatives in Plantiful.

Simon Rudd, Rudd’s Commercial Manager, explained that Eat Well offers a range of more functional products for a more health and fitness conscious customer, while the Plantiful range gives a plant based alternative option for the changing consumer landscape.

Alcohol consumption falling

IRELAND is seeing a reduction in alcohol consumption, as consumers embrace healthier lifestyles. Indeed, Irish alcohol consumption has fallen by a third since 2001, with Ireland’s consumption now within European consumption norms, according to Pat Rigney, the new Chairperson of Drinks Ireland, who noted that clear evidence is emerging that consumers, particularly young Irish adults, are consuming alcohol products in a more balanced and moderate way and are ahead of the often times outdated stereotypes put about in Ireland.

Drinkaware recently asked the public in its national survey which tools and techniques they found to be the most effective to help reduce alcohol consumption.

Clear information on what is meant by a standard drink, and what the maximum number of drinks a person should drink (HSE low-risk weekly guidelines) was reported by 32% of respondents and remains the top tool ranked for the third year in a row, while a quarter of respondents (25%) ranked no/low alcohol drink options as a tool they would use. The increased variety of no/low alcohol products available has seen sales of these products more than triple between 2017 and 2021.

“As the national charity working to help support the public to either cut out or down on their alcohol consumption, it’s crucial that we understand what works and what doesn’t work for people when they want to cut down, cut out or drink alcohol in a more mindful way,” noted Sheena Horgan, CEO for Drinkaware.

Research commissioned by Musgrave MarketPlace recently shows that the younger generation is leading the way when it comes to growth of the Zero Alcohol category, choosing alcohol substitutes to get into the party spirit rather than an all or nothing approach to festivities, even at Christmas. Zero alcohol beer and mocktails are the most popular beverages across the nation, with 18–34-year-olds opting for the fruity, easy to drink mocktails, which still let them feel a sense of celebration and get their party on. 18-24-year-olds are actively trying to drink less when reaching for a Zero Alcohol drink, with 30% doing so for health reasons or to avoid ending up hungover.

Ken Allan, Head of Beverage at Musgrave MarketPlace, revealed that the Irish market has seen significant growth of 11.2% in the Low & No Lager category in 2022, generating €22.4 million in sales to September 2022 according to CGA figures: “Our research shows Gen Z are really leading the way in terms of the Zero Alcohol category with an appetite for tasty premium alcohol-free options that still allow them to feel like they’re celebrating and enjoying a special moment, or just letting their hair down albeit in a non-traditional way.

“We know this generation to be un-afraid of treating themselves with premium purchases but who also look after their bodies and minds with healthier options, be that food, drink and mental and physical wellbeing, so it’s no surprise they’re making waves and driving innovation and creation within this burgeoning category.”