Healthy lifestyles are all the rage – and that doesn’t mean people are just rethinking their diets.

Everyday Americans are becoming athletes, participating in marathons and triathlons, picking up new hobbies like swimming and biking, and are focusing more on building lean, strong bodies instead of simply shedding pounds. Food and beverage companies that have traditionally developed products aimed at the sports crowd are retooling their offerings to appeal to the more active, everyday consumer.

People need fuel before, during, and after their workouts, but not everyone wants the standard protein bar or shake for nourishment. Companies that can think of imaginative ways to provide portable electrolytes, hydration, and nutrition will be at an advantage, especially during the warm-weather months when people are getting the most natural exercise. To stay competitive with the big brands, food and beverage manufacturers should develop clean-label, unprocessed products that people can easily consume on the move, whether they’re biking, walking, hiking, or jogging.

Quick healthy snacks help people keep up their endurance, and packaging these goods in stand up pouches with spout keep them protected and resilient to the elements.

(Image Source: Bike Rumor)

Clif Bar is one company getting it right with its Athlete Series and Organic Energy Food line. The company calls its innovative food offerings “the next generation of sports nutrition.” Instead of just producing sweet, fruity drinks or crunchy granola bars everyone is used to, Clif developed savory flavor offerings like Sweet Potato with Sea Salt and Pizza Margherita for hungry athletes to eat during their workout.

Packaged in stand up pouches with spout, this food product line is inspired by home recipes and is a great way to tide people over before they can return home and sit down to a warm meal. According to the latest volume of the Nutrition Business Journal, Clif uses natural, vegan ingredients like tomato, carrot, quinoa, and sunflower seed butter in resealable pouches, making wholesome, nutritious snacks easy to transport.

Stand up pouches with spout are a great alternative to standard bags and bottles because they’re strong, flexible, less bulky, and they keep food fresher longer.

There are also many different spout options to suit both the producer and consumer’s needs. Sports cap spouts are great for more active lifestyles, while kid-friendly spouts make proper nutrition and hydration easy for families who like to get moving together. We already know kids are drawn to drinks like Capri Sun, which are classically packaged in stand up pouches, and pureed sports snacks are the next phase of this type of product for on-the-go consumers.

Food and beverage companies will get ahead by focusing on making products targeted to the athletic community more accessible to people new to exercise, or simply those adopting more active lifestyles. Choosing flexible retail packaging, like stand up pouches with spout, will keep products secure and free from breaking or puncture. It’s the perfect way to show off savory, nutritious products in their very best light.