Students Compete in Smart Snacks for Kids Product Development Competition at IFT FIRST

The IFTSA Smart Snacks for Kids Competition challenges students to develop a fun and nutritious food or beverage product targeted at kids and/or teens. Products must abide by the USDA “Guide to Smart Snacks in School” recommendations.

Teams are empowered to use their imagination in the science and overall appeal in the creation of a novel product. A crucial component of a winning product is the team’s ability to relay the food or beverage’s “smart” qualities to both a technical and general audience.

This year’s Smart Snacks for Kids Product Development Competition will take place Monday, July 17, from 3 – 5 p.m. in room S501 of the convention center.

Here are the finalists in this year’s competition:

Fruity Fritters, University of Wisconsin, Madison: Fruity Fritters are fritters made with "Fruit-Fetti" (fruit and vegetable fruit leather pieces), apple chunks, and are air fried with a sugar glaze packet packaged separately to pour on top.

Hungary Monster, McGill University: Hungry Monster is a chocolate-flavoured tart that kids can build themselves by filling the tarts and decorating them into hungry monsters using our fun decorations.

PumpYam, University of California, Davis: PumpYam, a nutritious vegetable-based pastry snack crafted from pumpkin, taro, and purple yam, is infused with essential nutrients to prevent Vitamin D deficiency.

Jungle Clusters, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona: Jungle Clusters are whole multigrain granola spherical oat cluster snacks, with an explosion of mango, dragon fruit, and peach fusion.

SunBuddies, Oregon State University: SunBuddies are an allergen free, gluten free take on a classic childhood sandwich – a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Critter Crackers, Texas A&M University: Critter Crackers are a Black Soldier Fly based snack cracker in various bug shapes.

Winners of the competition will be announced at the IFTSA Closing Ceremony on Tuesday evening, July 18, in the S100 Ballroom of the convention center. Each of the finalist teams will receive a certificate and a reimbursement for travel to IFT FIRST 2023 of up to $1,500. Prizes include $3,000 for first place, $1,500 for second place, and $500 for the third-place team.