The 100 Years Club Installment #55: Eat to Live & Love to Eat

Twice a year, I go to the Specialty Food Association’s Fancy Food Shows (one in NY and one in Las Vegas).

The Association is older than I am. Founded in 1952, it brings the entire food community together to learn, sell, and sample.

And what a great community it is!

The team really knows how to produce an event — from the top-quality press room to the? IG backdrops around the floor to the Pitch Slams for new companies to the funky little beaded hashtag bracelets to the after-hours experiences.

Food people are passionate about what they do and most of them are eager to share their products with media, buyers, and other industry professionals.

What we eat has changed radically since I was a little girl. I grew up on loads of red meat, fried foods (in nasty oil), and preservative- and sugar-packed breakfast cereals. It’s a wonder I’m still as healthy as I am. I believe that, in part, that’s due to a massive change in my eating habits over the past few years.

What Am I Eating NOW?

So, every year at the Fancy Food Show, I challenge myself to “sample clean” and stick to those products that have basic ingredients. “A little sugar” to me is like saying “A little heroin.” I avoid gluten and most dairy (which was really difficult at the Show).

However,? I found 30+ products that truly wowed me (which I managed to squish into 10 categories).

As I’ve mentioned in past articles, the people behind the food are as important as the products themselves, especially in an Expo environment. A smile with the samples goes a long way. And, if a founder or rep leaves a bad taste in my mouth, I hesitate to support the brand.

See the 30+ foods here!

Here are the main categories:

1. Breakfast is still my most important meal of the day.
2. Snacks can keep you going all day.?
3. “Snacks of substance” are a slightly different category.?
4. Food “accessories”?are what I call anything you can add to other foods to give them shock and awe (in a good way).
5. Global treats enable you to taste the world from your kitchen or dining room table.
6. Cheers (without the hangover)!?Mocktails are having a moment.
7. I have a sweet tooth.?
8. Don’t forget to hydrate!
9. Not all freebies are food.
10. Intergenerational companies abounded at the show, along with founders who started early or late in life and those who were inspired by family members’ stories.

Viva Las Vegas!

Aside from eating, what else did I do at the show and during my three days in Las Vegas? I:

• Sat in on insightful trend panels, including an overview of the Specialty Food Association’s (SFA’s)? new research on today’s eating habits, tips for marketing storytelling, and how to build healthy living habits into active adult communities.
• Gathered ideas for BleisureLiving.com about portable travel snacks. Stay tuned for that article.
• Went to sleep embarrassingly early. My room at the Conrad Resorts World was just so cozy (and I got those Hilton points). I also discovered this amazing way to get from the hotel to the convention center. Only $5 for the day, it was like an amusement park ride every morning and night!
• Reminded myself how much I enjoy attending live events, especially those that are finding new ways to engage attendees, support exhibitors and sponsors, and elevate an entire industry. Some of the concepts I experienced will be applied to RacquetX (one of my clients) in March.

So, whether you’re filling yourself with brain food or the kind you eat, attending events like this is a great way to keep yourself healthy (especially with all that walking), connected, and inspired!

And remember...check out the full list of products and photos here.