2007-08-29|Big Idea Group (BIG): Welch's AfterSchool Snack Idea Hunt
OmegaChips™
Ultra-Healthy Chips with Ground Flaxseeds!
Concise Summary
OmegaChips™ are reconstituted potato-flaxseed chips containing vitamin C, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and fibre.
Detailed Description
Potato chips have a kind of magical power, luring kids and adults alike. Although potatoes have a high vitamin C content, potato chips have gained reputation as the king of junk food because of high calories due to carbohydrates. What if potato chips were not junk food but really healthy food? This proposal is to de-junk potato chips.
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have very positive health effects. They are contained in oily fish, e.g., salmon, trout, tuna, mackerel, sardines, herring, etc. Amongst other benefits, studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acids in oily fish may help sufferers of depression, reduce the likelihood of heart disease, improve inflammatory conditions, etc.
There is a documented clinical case of someone from being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and chronic fatigue syndrome having transformed to a state of total mental and physical well-being after taking omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
People who do not get enough omega-3 fatty acids or do not maintain a healthy balance of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids in their diet may be at an increased risk for depression. The omega-3 fatty acids are important components of nerve cell membranes. They help nerve cells communicate with each other, which is an essential step in maintaining good mental health.
However, such fish have high cost, and contain toxic mercury. Most importantly, kids are not so keen on eating fish oil, to put it mildly. Fortunately, there is an alternative. Flaxseeds are the highest known vegetable source of omega-3 fatty acids. Flaxseeds also contain fibre to lower the level of cholesterol. Although ground flaxseeds have neutral taste, they do not have appealing flavour.
Combining potatoes and ground flaxseeds in the form of reconstituted potato-flaxseed chips gives the best of both worlds, i.e., potatoes for their irresistible taste with antioxidant vitamin C, flaxseeds for their exceptional health benefits with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and fibre. Introducing OmegaChips™.
OmegaChips™ offer genuine health benefits in a convenient, healthy and fun product, unlike junk food that is disguised as healthy food, claiming "Old Fashioned", "Natural", "Organic/Biologic", "0 Trans Fat", etc.
Flaxseeds are very inexpensive. For example, ground flaxseeds is not a health food with inflated prices but cheaply available at a supermarket.
Crushed potatoes and ground flaxseeds are mixed and processed to form reconstituted chips. OmegaChips™ are not fried but pressure-formed at relatively low-temperature. OmegaChips™ also contain low sodium content. Many varieties of added flavours are possible so as to suit kids's taste.
Competitors for reconstituted potato chips include the following. Neither of them have any health benefits like OmegaChips™.
Pringles® (Procter & Gamble)
Lay's Stax® (Frito-Lay)
To differentiate from the competitors, OmegaChips™ will be twisted in shape, as shown in Visuals/Models.
OmegaChips™ will be stacked in a cylindrical package, which will be nitrogen-filled (N2) with standard ultraviolet (UV) protection in order to prevent oxidation and rancidity.
On a personal note, after I started taking mega-dose of ground flaxseeds every day, my health has dramatically improved. There has been no other change in my diet pattern. Before taking ground flaxseeds, it was taking me between 2 1/2 hours and 3 hours to cycle 21 km to reach the summit of the Gatineau Park. I was walking a lot because the hills were too steep for me by bicycle. After eating flaxseeds daily for a week, I was able to cycle 21 km to the summit non-stop, in 1 hour and 40 minutes. I was not out of breath or out of energy during cycling like before, and I was not tired when I reached the top. So, the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids are definitely not a placebo effect. I am pleased to discover that flaxseeds are my fountain of youth! To verify that it is not age-related, my son François is also reporting improved health thanks to the flaxseeds.
Disclaimer: I hope that Welch counts flaxseeds as fruits, PLEASE!
