ABSTRACT
Oral Liquid Nutrition Supplements (OLNS) are widely prescribed to older adults in the US and globally to prevent and treat malnutrition. However, consumer satisfaction is low, resulting in poor adherence rates. The overarching goal of this research was to design a functional frozen dessert alternative with proprietary ingredients that delivers equivalent nutrition to current OLNS products on the market, but with multi-sensory appeal that fits into the lifestyle of the older adult consumer. In this paper, we present the findings of consumer design workshops and product optimization for a functional ice cream alternative to OLNS designed to support the nutrition and health of older adults. The objectives of this study were to 1) optimize the flavor, texture, and packaging features of the product; 2) use gained insights to generate product prototypes; and 3) assess the acceptance of the prototypes among older adult consumers.
