How we select our healthy snacks

That our snacks are 100% natural, contain no additives, taste great and are strictly selected is something I probably don't have to explain to you. Although I often get the question, "what does that actually mean, strictly selected?" and what makes you stand out? I take you into my story!

Back in time

It was late 2017... As a triathlete with a thorough knowledge of nutrition, I quickly saw that many of the healthy snacks on the market still contained too much fat, sugar and additives. That's why I founded JustBite; together with our professionals we select those snacks that are really healthy!

I felt the need to help people select those really healthy snacks. We do the selection, our clients can snack on healthy snacks with peace of mind ❤️.

Selection

When JustBite was founded, I worked out a model together with a dietician in which we could select snacks on an individual basis. A snack brand may claim to be healthy, but we still scrutinize each snack individually. This is also because we see that there are very few brands whose full range passes our selection.

We look at 3 parameters: the ingredients, the composition (ratio of carbohydrates, fats, proteins & fiber) and the taste. Let me explain in detail how we go about it !

1. The ingredients under the run

First we look at the list of ingredients and check it against a list of prohibited ingredients that we have defined. Some examples of substances that are all too common in traditional foods: artificial flavors, sweeteners, aspartame, titanium dioxide, inulin, glycerol, maltitol, isomalto-oligosaccharide, citric acid...

So, generally speaking, the ingredients should be mostly recognizable to everyone.

Of course, not known is not necessarily bad, so we do make exceptions. Just because we also want to introduce our customers to new and innovative products. But rest assured, we have done our homework!

Let me give you an example: one of our products lists "Tapioca" as the third ingredient. In itself not typically known, but this flavorless powder comes from cassava root. Tapioca flour is rich in vitamins, minerals such as potassium, calcium and iron and is used as a natural binding agent. So perfectly OK!

By the way, did you know that ingredients are always listed in order of weight? The first ingredient on the list is the most present and so they continue in decreasing weight.

2. The right composition

Once the ingredient list was scrutinized, we start looking at the ratio of macronutrients. We look at the composition fats, carbohydrates, proteins (and fiber). To do this, I designed a master Excel file (of which I am quite proud 😅) in which all the values per 100 grams are entered. After entering the composition, the formulas do their job and indicate whether the snack passes the test or not.

I also often see people staring blindly just at the composition and hear comments like "so many carbs, fats, kilocalories..."

While a snack may be higher in carbohydrate count, if there is also enough fiber present, this will cause energy release to be slower. This means that energy is released gradually and blood sugar levels rise less quickly.

Another example is nut-based products. On average, these contain quite a lot of calories and fats, but are an ideal snack thanks to their essential proteins, fatty acids, vitamins (E and B), minerals and fiber. In addition, they protect the body against cardiovascular diseases, lower cholesterol... So the higher number of calories and fats is not a reason to avoid them, on the contrary!

Obviously, we take selection seriously! With this method of selection, I firmly believe that we provide our customers with the best snacks available on the market. Snacks that provide the body with the necessary -essential- nutrients, vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.

3. Taste

Finally, there is the determination of taste. And although tastes differ, every snack is tasted by the entire team before it enters our assortment. Flavors that are too specific or whose threshold is too high are not included at that point.

Some examples 

Wholey Moley Almond, Hemp & Chia

We look at the ingredients (in order of most present):

• Oats: is a great source of energy and nutrition. It makes you feel satisfied and helps lower blood pressure.
• Hazelnuts: are packed with fatty acids that help reduce inflammation, among other things.
• Cashews: this nut has a sweet, salty taste and is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals that help fight heart disease, among other things.
• Coconut oil: this superfood is high in healthy fats, which stimulate fat burning and provide energy to the brain and body.
• Cacao powder & cacao beans: powerful antioxidant (4000% more than blueberries) and boosts the immune system. In addition, it acts as a natural mood booster.
• Molasses: unlike refined sugars (which have no nutritional value), molasses contains essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that support bone and heart health.
• Agave: is 50% sweeter than sugar, so it is only used in particularly small amounts.

In terms of taste, this cookie is a worthy alternative to classic cookies!

Emily Veg Sticks - Simply Sea Salt

We look at the ingredients (in order of most present):

• Sweet potato (68%)
• Sunflower oil
• Sea Salt

This snack is great in taste and texture. On the one hand, we have the crispy experience of dried sweet potato; on the other hand, this high-fiber snack is lightly seasoned. This without compromising the taste of sweet potato.

So the above snacks passed our test with flying colors based on ingredients present, composition and taste.

We understand that this is not an easy matter. If you have any questions about this, do not hesitate to send us an email at info@justbite.eu. We will gladly serve you with answers!