{"id":10595,"date":"2013-11-07T12:13:24","date_gmt":"2013-11-07T18:13:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=10595"},"modified":"2013-11-07T23:05:46","modified_gmt":"2013-11-08T05:05:46","slug":"kosherfest-2013-reflects-growing-demand-for-healthy-alternatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/kosherfest-2013-reflects-growing-demand-for-healthy-alternatives\/","title":{"rendered":"Kosherfest 2013 reflects growing demand for healthy alternatives"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>By MICHELE ALPERIN<\/p>\n<p>(JNS.org) &#8211; The growing demand for natural, organic, vegetarian, fiber, and gluten-free alternatives among kosher consumers was apparent at Kosherfest 2013, the annual trade show of the kosher food industry, from Oct. 29-30 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, NJ.<\/p>\n<p>Companies big and small are in with the new trend. As Manischewitz Assistant Brand Manager Avital Pessar tells <em>JNS.org<\/em>, \u201cWe are constantly looking to find ways to be innovative with modern health trends.\u201d Indeed, the company\u2019s new \u201cL\u2019Chaim, To Life\u201d insignia applies to its natural products, for example, broths without MSG. Its \u201cSeason\u201d brand indicates that the fish used in a product are sustainably harvested and wild caught.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_10597\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/kosherfest-crackers.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10597\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-10597 lazyload\" title=\"kosherfest-crackers\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/kosherfest-crackers-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/kosherfest-crackers-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/kosherfest-crackers.jpg 500w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/199;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10597\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-10597\" title=\"kosherfest-crackers\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/kosherfest-crackers-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/kosherfest-crackers-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/kosherfest-crackers.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-10597\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Kosherfest 2013 vendor speaks with an attendee about Aviva Organic Petit Beurre Biscuits, which Aviva Organic describes as &quot;delicious healthy cookies made of whole wheat flour, a great healthy treat for children &amp; adult.&quot; On the table are whole grain spelt crackers from Landau Kosher. (Photo credit Kosherfest)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Many companies at Koshefest are now catering to customers who need to be gluten-free. Streit\u2019s offers several gluten-free products: vanilla and chocolate cake mixes, kosher-for-Passover Israeli couscous, matzo ball mix, and Cran Orange Matzo Granola. Manischewitz, meanwhile, has gluten-free matzo-style squares and crackers as well as cake mixes and other foods.<\/p>\n<p>Nutritionist Reesa Sokoloff, who works with Sherrie\u2019s Specialties, spoke to the increasing need for the gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free macaroons and biscotti her company offers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYounger people eating gluten-free foods are heading for diabetes,\u201d she says, explaining that gluten-free products typically use high-starch flours like potato starch and tapioca (Sherrie\u2019s uses nut flour or no flour at all). The company\u2019s goal, says Sokoloff, is \u201cto put forth healthy and delicious food and to fill a void that is increasing in size\u2014whether a diabetic that needs to eat gluten free or a gluten free that has walked themselves into diabetes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sherrie\u2019s uses the sweetener Zylotol, an all-natural sweetener from birch bark and corn cobs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt looks, tastes, and bakes just like sugar, and it is the only natural sweetener that is safe for diabetics,\u201d Sokoloff says.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_10598\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/kosherfest-fresheasy.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10598\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-10598 lazyload\" title=\"kosherfest-fresheasy\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/kosherfest-fresheasy-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/kosherfest-fresheasy-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/kosherfest-fresheasy.jpg 500w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/199;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10598\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-10598 \" title=\"kosherfest-fresheasy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/kosherfest-fresheasy-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/kosherfest-fresheasy-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/kosherfest-fresheasy.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-10598\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Leah Schapira exhibits her book, &quot;Fresh &amp; Easy Kosher Cooking: Ordinary Ingredients, Extra-ordinary meals,&quot; at Kosherfest 2013. (Photo credit Kosherfest)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>One of several companies that have recently received kosher certification after offering gluten-free and other healthy products to a broader market is Kinnikinnick Foods of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The firm\u2019s owner, Dani Wiebe, explains why her company\u2014 which manufactures products free of gluten, dairy, meat, and peanuts\u2014decided to get its Orthodox Union (OU) kosher parve certification in December 2011. \u201cWe had been getting lots of inquiries for a number of years, and because we take allergy restrictions seriously, there was no reason not to take into account other dietary restrictions as well,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>Kinnikinnick\u2019s has won awards for the taste and healthiness of its gluten-free bread, which, notes Wiebe, is different from other gluten-free breads because it provides five grams of fiber in every two slices of bread, is enriched with five essential nutrients, and has loaves the same size as regular bread. Wiebe says her company \u201cis the only gluten-free company to stay true to the traditional boil-and-bake method\u201d of making bagels.<\/p>\n<p>Another aspect of healthy eating has to do with the health value of fiber. David Holzer of Fiber Gourmet, which exhibits for the American Diabetes Association, put forward his first fiber-based product in 2008 and says of his pasta and crackers, \u201cHalf the product is fiber, but it tastes like you\u2019re eating regular food.\u201d Holzer adds that the Resistant Starch Type 4 he uses, which has no calories, is digested in the distal rather than the proximal colon, which may offer protection against colon cancer and reduce bloating for people who have difficulty digesting fiber.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_10596\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/kosherfest-cooking.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10596\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-10596 lazyload\" title=\"kosherfest-cooking\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/kosherfest-cooking-300x204.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"204\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/kosherfest-cooking-300x204.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/kosherfest-cooking.jpg 500w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/204;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10596\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-10596 \" title=\"kosherfest-cooking\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/kosherfest-cooking-300x204.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"204\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/kosherfest-cooking-300x204.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/kosherfest-cooking.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-10596\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A vendor cooks at Kosherfest 2013. Photo credit Kosherfest)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Vegetarian alternatives were also represented at Kosherfest. A newcomer to the kosher market, Ryan Krause of Atlantic Natural Foods from Nashville, NC, showcased his company\u2019s Meatless Select brand, which includes a five-bean chili, fishless tuna, and vegetarian taco filling, among other products.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe set out to create products without artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives,\u201d he says. \u201cWe also wanted to create products that not only vegetarians would enjoy but also a person who eats meat and wants to reduce red meat from their diet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gezunt Gourmet, which uses natural ingredients, is working on organic certification, says owner Louis Agrosa. One of his products at Kosherfest was a non-dairy lasagna that tastes like typical vegetarian lasagna, but uses tofuti instead of cheese. In his business, he avoids cheaper alternatives like emulsified tomato paste, and starts with whole tomatoes. \u201cIf you start with good quality ingredients, you don\u2019t have to put in a lot of additives,\u201d Agrosa says.<\/p>\n<p>Schulz Catering\u2019s \u201cGourmet to Go\u201d brand of self-heating products, all non-GMO (genetically modified organisms) and without preservatives, include lots of veggie and vegan foods that are shelf stable for three years. \u201cIt was very important for us to go with the vegan and vegetarian market in order to meet the new culinary trend of less carbs and less gluten,\u201d Schulz\u2019s Eyal Ben David says.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_10599\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/kosherfest-crowd.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10599\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-10599 lazyload\" title=\"kosherfest-crowd\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/kosherfest-crowd-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/kosherfest-crowd-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/kosherfest-crowd.jpg 500w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/199;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10599\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-10599 \" title=\"kosherfest-crowd\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/kosherfest-crowd-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/kosherfest-crowd-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/kosherfest-crowd.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-10599\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The crowd at Kosherfest 2013. (Photo credit Kosherfest)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Although people do not necessarily think of preserves, marmalades, and chutneys as healthy foods, the ones offered by Joe Hanglin of Blake Hill Preserves from Grafton, Vt., are certainly healthier. \u201cWe don\u2019t use thickeners, additives, citric acid, or commercial pectins,\u201d Hanglin says, adding that he uses top-quality fruit and berries as well as more fruit than ordinary jams.<\/p>\n<p>Another \u201chealthier\u201d alternative comes from Gelato Giuliana, whose owner, Giuliana Maravalle, explains that gelato has much less butterfat than ice cream, particularly the high-end ones.<\/p>\n<p>Several companies offered unusual herbal products, vitamins, and nutrient-rich \u201csuperfoods.\u201d Galilee Tisanes, an Israeli family business, produces a range of herbal teas that support healthy function for a variety of health conditions, including diabetes, high cholesterol and blood pressure, obesity allergies, asthma, and constipation. It also markets Nufar fibers, which use quinoa for protein. The herbs are grown on the family farm in the Upper Galilee, and according to the company\u2019s literature, the farm \u201cuses 100 percent natural production, free of artificial flavors, colorants, essential oils, preservatives or chemical and GMO ingredients.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bluebonnet Nutrition Company, which joined the kosher market about six years ago, offers a variety of multivitamins, amino acids, protein powders, and herbs.<\/p>\n<p>Earth Circle Organics offers superfoods from all over the world, such as goji berries from Tibet. Its Chlorella powder can be added to smoothies to take mercury and metal out of our bodies, and its Spirulina powder \u201ctakes out the fogginess,\u201d says Kerry Romano Zall, who adds, \u201cOur goal is to make it affordable for people to eat this way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Organic Traditions, which got its start after its owner took some digestive enzymes that cured his stomach problems, also offers superfoods. They carry products with a low glycemic index that are high in antioxidants, offering fruits, seeds, sprouts, teas, and blends from all over the world. Yacon, a sweetener in some of its products, is made from a tuber from the Amazon jungle that doesn\u2019t spike one\u2019s blood-sugar level like agave and is much tastier than Stevia, says Hindy Stegman, the owner\u2019s sister and vice president of sales and marketing.<\/p>\n<p>According to Stegman, Organic Traditions is focused on raising awareness of healthy eating in the Jewish community.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are supposed to be a light unto the nations, but it seems our light is not so bright,\u201d she says, pointing to hot dogs, cakes, and other unhealthy options offered by Kosherfest exhibitors. \u201cWe are here to let people know other choices are available to them.\u201d<\/p>\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:20px; padding-top:10px;\" class=\"hupso-share-buttons\"><!-- Hupso Share Buttons - https:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/ --><a class=\"hupso_toolbar\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/buttons\/share-medium.png\" style=\"border:0px; padding-top: 5px; float:left;\" alt=\"Share Button\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/buttons\/share-medium.png\" style=\"border:0px; padding-top: 5px; float:left;\" alt=\"Share Button\"\/><\/noscript><\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var hupso_services_t=new Array(\"Twitter\",\"Facebook\",\"Google Plus\",\"Pinterest\",\"Linkedin\",\"Tumblr\",\"Email\");var hupso_background_t=\"#EAF4FF\";var hupso_border_t=\"#66CCFF\";var hupso_toolbar_size_t=\"medium\";var hupso_image_folder_url = \"\";var hupso_url_t=\"\";var hupso_title_t=\"Kosherfest%202013%20reflects%20growing%20demand%20for%20healthy%20alternatives\";<\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/js\/share_toolbar.js\"><\/script><!-- Hupso Share Buttons --><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":10597,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[4288,4287,8790,8795,4286,8788],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10595"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10595"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10595\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10615,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10595\/revisions\/10615"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10597"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10595"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10595"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10595"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}