Americans will spend more on Super Bowl snacks in this year's strong economy - Quartz

Kansas City Chiefs fans are ready Super Bowl LVIII

Image: William Purnell (Reuters)

The economy is looking good—even better than economists expected. And—in addition to that being good news for consumers and investors all around—that means people will spend more on wings, chips, dips, and drinks for the Super Bowl, according to Wells Fargo.

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The NFL game is set for Feb. 11 between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers. “Expect packed grocery stores, restaurants, and sports bars,” wrote analysts in a report Thursday (Feb. 1).

The expected higher game day snack spending is due to a couple of economic indicators in particular. For one, the US labor force grew in January, with 2.4 million more workers hired by companies than the same month last year. At the same time, workers are making about $1.28 an hour more on average than they did in January 2023. The “impressive” wage increases and the “touchdown in job growth” last month mean Americans have more to spend on food, the Wells Fargo experts noted.

Groceries are also more affordable than they were last year. Food inflation has come down quite a bit—from 10% at the beginning of 2023 to just 2.7% at the end of the year. Grocery prices, especially, have moderated. Inflation for food consumed at home is now just 1.3%.

Here are analysts’ tips to make your grocery bills cheaper

🍗 Opt for chicken wings: Fresh chicken wing prices in January were 5% lower than they were last year, and frozen wing prices fell even more (11%). Both are a little over $3 per pound.

🥤Get the 2-liter soda bottles: 12-ounce canned soda drinks are about 60 cents more expensive on average than they were at the end of 2022, while 2-liter bottles have gotten cheaper.

🍤 Buy shrimp instead of steak: Shrimp prices in January were down 6.4% from last year, at $8.84 per pound. Meanwhile, steak and ground beef are still pricier than they used to be, averaging $9.35 and $4.25 per pound, respectively. “While prices have eased from these highs, they are still at a substantial increase over beef prices for the 2023 Super Bowl,” wrote analysts.

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Americans will spend more on Super Bowl snacks in this year's strong economy - Quartz
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5 healthy snacks for winters - DNA India

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5 healthy snacks for winters  DNA India
5 healthy snacks for winters - DNA India
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Kenyan Entrepreneur Makes Snacks from Indigenous Grains - Voice of America - VOA News

Indigenous African grains such as millet and sorghum are known to be nutritious but are not popular with many, especially the Gen Zers who view the grains as food for the poor. To change this narrative, a Kenyan entrepreneur is using the grains to make snacks and breakfast cereals to promote consumption of indigenous grains and foster environmental sustainability, as Juma Majanga reports from Nairobi. Video by Amos Wangwa.

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Kenyan Entrepreneur Makes Snacks from Indigenous Grains - Voice of America - VOA News
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Kenyan Entrepreneur Makes Snacks from Indigenous Grains - Voice of America - VOA News

Indigenous African grains such as millet and sorghum are known to be nutritious but are not popular with many, especially the Gen Zers who view the grains as food for the poor. To change this narrative, a Kenyan entrepreneur is using the grains to make snacks and breakfast cereals to promote consumption of indigenous grains and foster environmental sustainability, as Juma Majanga reports from Nairobi. Video by Amos Wangwa.

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Kenyan Entrepreneur Makes Snacks from Indigenous Grains - Voice of America - VOA News
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Real Or Fake Cashews? Let's Make Snacking Simple - HerZindagi

Cashews are known for their health benefits. While they are counted among rich dry fruits, there are a lot of fake cashews sold in the market. Let’s dive in to distinguish between real and fake cashews. 

While dry fruits are considered a healthy snacking option, cashews are the most popular among them. Apart from being considered as the snacking option, it is added to several cuisines to enhance its taste. Rich in fibre, plant protein and heart-healthy fats, cashews contribute to the maintenance of heart and bone health. While cashews are readily available in the market, there is prevalence of adulterated cashews as well making it challenging to spot the real one. Read on to learn how you can differentiate between real and fake cashews. 

Colour Of The Cashews

The first factor that you should look for while spotting the real cashew in the colour. Real cashews exhibit a pure white colour while the fake ones tend to appear light yellow. The colour differentiation is noticeable at a glance. Do make sure to pay attention to the colour of the cashews while purchasing. 

Quality Of The Cashews

Another factor that you can use to spot real cashews is the quality assessment. Real cashews possess a longer shelf life while fake cashews get contaminated easily before reaching the designated shelf life. Poor-quality cashews are prone to infestation from pests. Real cashews can be stored for up to six months in a proper air tight container and remain fresh as well. 

Size Of The Cashews

The size of the cashews is also an important determining factor between real and fake. Real cashews measure about 1 inch in length and are slightly thick as well. Variations from this size may indicate fake cashews. You can observe the shape and size of the cashews to spot the fake one. 

Don't Miss: Easy 10-Minute Snack Recipes For Busy Days

Taste Of The Cashews

There is a subtle difference between the taste of real and fake cashews. Real cashews (how to make dry fruit parathas at home) never stick to the teeth while the fake ones adhere between teeth. Moreover, fake cashews are hard to digest. Real cashews can be easily broken into pieces when chewed making it easier to digest. You can taste the cashews to spot the real ones among the fake cashews readily sold in the market. 

Don't Miss: Elevate Your Morning Routine With These Steamed Breakfast Options

Follow these tips to distinguish between real and fake cashews. 

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Mondelez Looks to Healthier Snacks to Whet Appetites - PYMNTS.com

Global snack and candy giant Mondelez International is pivoting its focus to healthier chocolate. 

Reporting on the fourth quarter of 2023, Mondelez, which owns brands like Oreo, Cadbury and Ritz, said it recorded a strong quarter, with a 14.4% growth in net revenue year over year, with a healthy performance across the globe, according to a Tuesday (Jan. 30) press release. 

Mondelez has focused on core categories like chocolate, biscuits and baked snacks for its direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales, which offer attractive growth and profitability. The company has expanded its distribution channels to reach more consumers, particularly in emerging markets like Brazil, China, India and Mexico. 

Speaking to analysts in an earnings call, CEO Dirk Van de Put pointed to innovations Mondelez is rolling out to draw more market share.

The company is “making healthier versions of our mainstream product,” Van de Put said. “So I’m referring to, for instance, what you’ve seen so far in gluten-free or Oreo Zero Sugar in China, [or] gluten-free in the U.S. … You can expect that we will continue [to expand] those efforts across other brands.”

Van de Put added that these products have the potential of tens of millions of dollars in revenue in each country.

The CEO also said he expected American consumers to continue spending even as they continue to search for deals.

“… From a mindset perspective, from a confidence perspective, in North America, probably the best in the last 2½ years,” Van de Put said. “So, what they’re doing is still reflecting sort of the tension they’re under, but they are expecting the economy to improve and that better times are ahead for them.”

He also noted a shift toward eCommerce spending among consumers. 

As PYMNTS has found, consumers are turning to connected devices to do their grocery shopping online. 

According to “Consumer Interest in an Everyday App,” a PYMNTS and PayPal collaboration, 14% of consumers said that they had exclusively purchased groceries using a smart device in the last 30 days since being surveyed. Another 39% had bought groceries both by using connected devices and via more traditional means.

A separate PYMNTS study also noted that consumers who do their grocery shopping online tend to spend more than those who do it in a brick-and-mortar setting. 

According to data from PYMNTS’ study “Tracking the Digital Payments Takeover: Catching the Coming eCommerce Wave,” which was created with Amazon Web Services, consumers spent an average of $88 on their in-store grocery purchases. Conversely, eGrocery customers spent a significantly higher $116 on average per purchase.

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Air fryer snacks to try this winter - The Statesman

The quintessential way to savor winter evenings in India involves a steaming cup of ‘chai’ paired with some pakoras. However, as awareness about the consequences of unhealthy lifestyles grows, people are keen to distance themselves from pakoras and fried foods. Does that mean giving up on the love for those crispy delights? Not at all. Air fryers come to the rescue for those seeking to balance flavor with nutrition effectively. Whether it’s crispy French fries or onion, corn, and spinach pakoras, modern air fryers can achieve that with minimal oil, without compromising on freshness, taste, or flavor profile. If you’re looking for some air fryer-friendly snack options, peruse the list below that we’ve compiled for you.

Chicken Spring Rolls

Spring rolls can absorb a considerable amount of oil when prepared traditionally. If you want to relish this evening snack with minimal oil, air-fried chicken spring rolls are an ideal choice. Prepare them as you normally would, but instead of submerging them in hot oil, air fry until they achieve a crispy texture.

Chicken Nuggets

Who can resist munching on chicken nuggets paired with a cup of freshly brewed coffee? They make for a perfect start to rainy evenings, winter gatherings with friends, or those moments when you prefer solitude. Rather than deep-frying them in oil, craft fresh chicken nuggets at home (it’s more convenient and healthier than store-bought frozen ones) and air fry them until they attain a golden and delicious perfection.

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Sweet Potato Fries

Gone are the days when you had to immerse your french fries in hot oil and later regret indulging. Air fryers have revolutionized the way we prepare fried snacks. Whether you desire french fries from regular potatoes or a healthier version using sweet potatoes, they’ll be ready in a snap with this ingenious appliance.

Crunchy Chickpeas

Soak your chickpeas overnight, drain the water, boil them, and toss them with a bit of sugar, salt, oil, and Indian spices. Then, place them in the air fryer for crispy and crunchy chickpeas. This can also be done with canned chickpeas.

Banana Chips

Banana chips evoke nostalgic memories of childhood. For a healthier version, thinly slice your bananas, rinse them, and use a paper towel to absorb excess moisture. Add some oil, spices, salt, and air fry until they become crisp and golden.

These are just a few of the delicious air fryer snacks that are not only soul-satisfying but also incredibly convenient to make. Enjoy!

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