A Little Hand Holding

Always on the go? If you're like me, not many of your meals are consumed leisurely at a table at home, but often on the run or at your desk. In fact, Packaged Facts reported that only 60% of our meals are prepared and eaten at home, that is a lot of on-the-go eating. This means that we gravitate to the quick and portable for our sustenance.

Luckily, my industry is paying attention and has been creating new items from what seems like every corner of the world. You can find in your grocery store, the convenience store or local restaurant carry-out menu items such as:

• Empanadas and tamales
• Egg rolls, spring rolls and bao
• Dosa
• Burritos and sandwich wraps
• Pasties
• Cheese filled bagels
• Pancake pods (these are pancake sandwiches filled with fruit)
• Breakfast cookies and cereal bars

My industry is also aware that while you may be rushed, eating healthy (at least some of the time) is something that you consider when choosing a food item. We also want food that tastes good and is visually and texturally appealing as well. With this in mind, you'll find companies combining artisan breads (like ciabiatta, sourdough, whole grains) with gourmet fillings. You are also likely to see legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains used in fillings, as coatings, and included as ingredients in the bread.

So, while it would be nice to slow down and enjoy more of our meals (home cooked preferably) at home with our loved ones, we can at least take comfort that there are healthy, innovative, worldly and tasty hand held food available!