Prepared Foods showcases new meal and entree products making a debut in 2020.

Nestlé introduced Life Cuisine, a new 15-item line addressing four consumer preferences: a low-carb lifestyle, high protein, meatless and gluten free. Made with protein, vegetables and whole grains, these recipes offer a convenient way to explore new cuisines and global flavors, officials say.

“Eating well is no longer ‘one-size-fits-all,’ so our offerings can’t be either,” said John Carmichael, president, Nestlé Foods Division. “As needs evolve and expand, our team of culinary experts and nutritionists works in lockstep to deliver contemporary meals made for these emerging food lifestyles, from gluten free to meatless and beyond.”

Life Cuisine includes layered bowls, cauliflower-crust pizzas and sous vide egg bites. From high-protein breakfasts to low-carb lifestyle snacks and gluten-free pizzas, Life Cuisine offers something for any time of day, says Nestlé. Consumers can choose from a variety of options offering a full cup of vegetables, two or more essential nutrients, high protein, high fiber and more.

ARE YOU NUTS? CASHEWS IN LEAD ROLE

Eat Howl Inc., Los Angeles, said it released its flagship Mac & Chef product, a cashew-based mac and cheese.

Mac & Chef debuted in two flavors: Classic Cashew with a sharp cheddar-style tang; and Spicy Chipotle, with a kick of real chipotle peppers. Officials say more flavors and product lines are coming soon.

“Howl is driven by one fundamental philosophy,” says Co-Founder and Chef Craig Thornton, “to put out better, more sustainable food using only quality and real ingredients the same way we would in a restaurant.”

Thornton says Mac & Chef is the only product that uses cashew cheese and no chemical preservatives.

He adds that Mac & Chef boasts a clean ingredient deck with real cashews, nutritional yeast, lemon juice and garlic.

Compared to the top-selling vegan mac and cheese (not identified), Thornton notes that Mac & Chef has 50% less total fat, 86% less saturated fat and two and half times more protein.

GLUTEN FREE WITH EXTRA PROTEIN

Pizza is America’s favorite food but with more than half of Americans reporting that they are trying to reduce carbohydrates in their diet, eating pizza becomes quite a dilemma.  Foster Farms, Livingston, Calif., says it found a solution with new Smart Crust frozen pizza.

Pizzas comes in three varieties—Four Cheese, Uncured Pepperoni and Uncured Bacon Club—and each has a crust featuring Foster Farms chicken breast, egg whites and cheese instead of flour. Officials say each Smart Crust pizza cuts carbs down to 4g per serving while providing 25g of protein. Smart Crust pizza also is gluten-free, grain free and Keto-certified.

Smart Crust cooks in 15 minutes and carries a suggested retail price of $5.99 per 8-8.5oz package.

“We know that eating healthy and cutting carbs is something more consumers are trying to do, including looking for gluten-free choices,” says Jennifer Corsiglia-Keim, Foster Farms marketing director. “Finding delicious low carb options for foods we crave isn’t always easy. With Smart Crust, you get everything you love about pizza but without the carbs.”

Conagra Brands, Inc., Chicago, greeted summer with more than two dozen new products.

Addressing interest in more plant-based eating are new entrees including Birds Eye Meatless Lasagna with Gardein Plant-Based Protein, Birds Eye Skillets with Gardein Plant-Based Protein (in Garlic Chick’n and Alfredo Chick’n flavors) and Healthy Choice Power Bowls with Gardein Plant-Based Protein (in Be’f & Vegetable Stir Fry, and Chipotle Chick’n flavors). Also new are Marie Callender’s Pot Pies with Gardein Plant-Based Protein (in Chick’n and Be’f flavors).

EVOL Pizza launched keto-friendly, gluten free pizzas in two flavors: 3-Cheese and Pepperoni. Also new is Blake’s Gluten Free Mac and Cheese.

FRESH MEALS WITH RESTAURANT TASTE

Cafe Spice GCT Inc., New Windsor, N.Y., began shipping its broad line of refrigerated meals nationwide through Amazon Fresh.

“Café Spice’s heat-and-eat meals’ availability through Amazon Fresh fulfills our goal of tasty, natural entrees being accessible and enjoyable at any time,” says Sameer Malhotra, co-founder and president. “We’re proud to serve our customers, established and new, with speed and convenience.”

Malhotra says the line features fresh, healthy meals (mostly Indian and Thai) with restaurant-quality ingredients. Gluten-free meals with plant-based options are certified by International Certification Services Inc., and Café Spice uses natural, organic products and oils with no genetically modified organisms, milk free of recombinant bovine growth hormones, and humanely raised antibiotic and hormone-free meats sourced locally when possible.

Prices start at $5.50 and portions range from 5.25oz to 16oz. Varieties include Chicken Tikka Masala with Saffron Rice, Potato Samosas with Chutneys, Chicken Vindaloo with Lemon Rice, Red Chicken Curry with Thai Fried Rice and a Yellow Tofu Curry with Thai Fried Rice.