New functional foods, drinks and supplements introduced to the Better For You segment in July 2018.

Rational Foods, Cincinnati, says it developed new Achieve food pouches to provide “the first-ever real food, convenient, meal replacement option in bariatric surgery and medically supervised weight loss.”

Created by Sean Daly, a chef and director of food innovation; and Dr. Jonathan Thompson, a bariatric surgeon and Daly’s longtime friend, Achieve food pouches offer an alternative to sweet, powdered shakes for meal replacement nutrition.

“Bariatric patients must adhere to a strict diet of liquid and soft foods pre- and post-surgery before they can eat solid foods again,” explains Thompson, a surgeon at the UC Health Weight Loss Center who has performed more than 600 weight-loss surgeries. “We believe a convenient, non-shake option has the potential to disrupt the weight loss recovery marketplace.”

The Achieve food pouch comes in three flavors: Butternut Squash, Pear and Ginger; Banana, Yogurt and Strawberry; and Apple, Carrot and Raspberry. Each brightly-colored, 4.7oz squeeze pouch boasts real, organic foods, 20g of protein, 160 calories and the vitamins/minerals necessary for the low-calorie program. They’re ready to eat but also have a long shelf life. Patients will be able to purchase the pouches through their healthcare providers or at www.rationalfoods.com

Mannatech, Inc., Flower Mound, Texas, describes its new EMPACT+ as the industry’s first three-in-one performance drink mix—coming major elements of fueling, hydration and recovery.

“Sports and exercise supplementation has become increasingly sophisticated,” says Mannatech’s Chief Operating and Marketing Officer Joel Bikman. “Until now, athletes had a product to take before they exercise, and a different product for during the activity, and even a third product to take afterwards to shorten recovery time. EMPACT+ is the first fitness product in the world that provides each needed element otherwise available in separate pre-, intra- and post-workout supplements. It combines fueling, hydration and recovery into one convenient drink and offers a difference that you can really feel.”

Officials say EMPACT+ provides safe energy, replenishing electrolytes, vital nutrients and branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) that help the body stay hydrated during physical activity, helps maintain muscle mass during exercise and weight management and support the development and post-exercise repair and rebuilding of muscle tissue and recovery. It is designed to provide a range of physical and mental enhancements that power its users through workouts, exercise and daily activities.

EMPACT+ drink mix will be available in Pineapple Orange Splash-flavored single-serving slimsticks.

ONE Brands, Charlotte, N.C., introduces ONE Basix Bars, a line of bars naturally sweetened with stevia.

Like the company’s traditional ONE Bar line, new Basix offerings also deliver 20g of protein and just 1g of sugar in each bar. New Basix varieties include Cookie Dough Chocolate Chunk, Triple Chocolate Chunk and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk.  ONE Basix Bars will be available nationwide at specialty retailers, including GNC and Vitamin Shoppe, and select gyms at a SRP of $2.49-$2.79.

“Our founder, Ron McAfee, Jr., obsessed over the perfect ingredients to create a naturally-sweetened bar without sacrificing anything ONE Bar stands for: decadent flavors, high-quality ingredients, complete nutrition, superior texture and taste,” says Peter Burns, ONE Brands president and CEO. “We’re excited to offer current and new fans of ONE a complementary take on our current bars with no coating or sugar alcohols, but the same great signature taste.” 

ONE Basix Bars are free of gluten, sugar alcohols and sucralose and are kosher certified. McAfee says Longtime ONE Bar fans will recognize ONE Bar’s unmatched texture and indulgent taste, now combined with decadent chocolate chunks and a natural sweetener. 

ONE says its protein bar offerings are ideal for breakfast, lunch, on-the-go snacking and/or post-workout recovery.

Originally appeared in the July, 2018 issue of Prepared Foods as form + function: New functional foods, drinks & supplements.