Are carbs the real enemy for dieters?

Fat used to be one of the most feared ingredients among weight-conscious consumers, with products claiming 'low-fat' or 'fat free' dominating the supermarket aisles.

However, more recently this anxiety has turned towards sugar and it is carbohydrates that are gaining serious attention from dieters.

According to a survey by GlobalData, more than half of consumers that are trying to cut down their carbohydrate intake are trying to lose weight, which is more than those who are cutting down on sugar and fat.

To reduce carbs, dieters are turning to healthier alternatives such as vegetables to replace the usual pasta, potatoes, and rice. Around 50% of dieters globally have said they would consider swapping staple carbs for vegetable alternatives such as courgetti pasta and cauliflower rice.

Frozen foods brand Green Giant recognised this as an opportunity and successfully launched frozen vegetable Swap-Ins range in the US last year, which includes products such as cauliflower mash and veggie tots.

Such innovation attracts not only 'low-carb' dieters, but also those looking to experiment with something a bit different. 'Carb-swapping' could be the next big trend, attracting dieters and mainstream consumers.