Sometimes the simplest treats are simply the best.  That’s definitely the case when it comes to one of the best summer snack foods: Frozen Grapes!

Now that summer is officially here, make it a point to remind your shoppers how easy it is to prepare and store these mini-sorbet-like treats that also happen to provide nutrition benefits.  Simply rinse, pat dry and place grapes in a re-sealable bag. Place in the freezer. Two hours later – and for up to a couple of weeks, if they last that long — they’re ready to enjoy.

From the California Table Grape Commission, here are other easy, tasty recipe ideas featuring grapes that will make your summer snacking and eating healthier than ever:

• Frosty fresh grape pops are a cool treat for adults and kids alike. Because they are made with fresh fruit, they’re a good-for-you option compared to most desserts on a stick.
• Turn traditional gazpacho recipes upside down with green grape gazpacho. Lettuce, cucumber, grapes and more combine to put a new twist on an old favorite.
• For a refreshing sweet beverage to help beat the heat, whip up a grape agua fresca. Mix freshly made grape juice, a sprinkle of sugar and lime juice to taste, and you have a drink that may just dethrone lemonade as your summertime drink of choice. Add sparkling water for a bubbly spin.
• Make fresh grape salsa by combining fresh grapes, cilantro, and chilies with vinegar, onions and salt and pepper. Serve with chips or toasted crostini for a deceptively simple dish with an unforgettable flavor.

For more cool grape recipes, visit www.GrapesFromCalifornia.com.

Is it time for a morning or afternoon snack? What little nosh would taste good right now, without blowing the day’s allotment for calories?

The Almond Board of California asked shoppers what favorite foods come to mind as a healthy snack; apples topped the list, followed by almonds, carrots, yogurt and granola. These same consumers listed “high in fiber,” “high in protein,” and “natural” as the most important qualities they look for when searching for healthy snacks.

But “taste of the food” is still the single most important consideration, even trumping “health” when making a snack choice. Consumers used words like “crave” (41%) and “exciting flavor” (39%) to describe what they are looking for in mid-meal eating. Thirty-seven percent said it’s most important that their snacks “combine good taste and good health.”

Here are some more interesting stats on snacks from the Almond Board of California consumer survey:

• North Americans snack and average of 2.6 times a day, up from 1.8 times a day in 2008;
• We snack ‘round the clock, but the three most popular times of day to snack are after dinner or late at night (24%), mid-afternoon (21%) and mid-morning (18%);
• Fifty-eight percent of us follow the traditional three-meals-a-day plus two snacks eating pattern, while a full 24 percent say that they substitute at least one meal a day with a snack;
• If we ever saw stigma in snacking, that is rapidly vanishing. Ninety-four percent of these shoppers agree that snacking can be a part of a healthy lifestyle, while only 27 percent say that they try to avoid snacking altogether;
• Seventeen percent of these shoppers say they always plan for their snacking; 11% say they “never” plan snacks and eat throughout the day as the opportunity arises;
• The nut most likely to be associated with snacking? Almonds, by 30% of shoppers. Twenty-four percent responded by saying peanuts, followed by 19% who responded by saying cashews.

Did you know that 47% of the added sugars in the average person’s diet come from sugar-sweetened sodas and carbonated soft drinks? That’s a lot of added sugar being consumed in beverage form. The estimated daily consumption of added sugars is about 19.5 teaspoons (82 grams); the American Heart Association says the limit should be 6 teaspoons (25 grams) per day for women and 9 teaspoons (38 grams) per day for men.

The good news is, a rise in consumption of bottled water is reversing the meteoric rise in soft drink sales that took place over three decades. Sales of carbonated soft drinks are at a 30-year low, and within the next few years, it is predicted that they will be outsold by bottled water.

And, these are enduring trends. The younger the demographic, the higher the consumption of water, bottled and otherwise. Thirteen to twenty-four year olds comprise a generation for whom pizza and water, pretzels and water or burgers and water are the norm.

We know that this is a positive trend for public health but beyond this, what does this mean for supermarkets? When shoppers make the switch from carbonated soft drinks to still or sparkling bottled water, they are changing to products that are more profitable for your stores, turn with a higher velocity and are seeing a faster pace of growth. Basket rings average 82% higher when bottled water is purchased. Bottled water is also one of few grocery products that allows consumers to trade up to a healthier product while receiving the benefit of a lower cost, as bottled water is typically half the price of soft drinks.

Dietitians know the importance of eating breakfast, both from a morning energy standpoint, and because breakfast provides important nutrients needed each day. Did you know that 32% of American kids’ consumption of milk each day comes from the milk they put on their cereal?

General Mills has a wealth of materials available to help your shoppers realize the benefits of breakfast, and to better make a point of making time to eat breakfast every day.  For consumers who are time or taste challenged in the morning, cereal – with its attributes of convenience, variety and nutritional content — may well be the answer! Cereal is still the leading source of whole grains for American adults, and those who eat cereal also consume more fruits and dairy products.

16% of American children purposefully skip breakfast, making it extremely difficult to catch up on needed vitamins and minerals during the day.

Here’s a handout that may be helpful when talking to consumers. If listing specific nutritional benefits seems overwhelming to your shoppers, simply remind them that cereal – especially when eaten topped with fresh or dried fruit and yogurt or milk – provides a complete package of nutrients and energy needed to start the day.