# Star-Shaped Veggie Bites Vegetables are the First Ingredient in Dr. Praeger's Taco Stars By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2025-06-24 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/taco-stars References: [nosh](https://www.nosh.com/news/2025/dr-praegers-ages-up-snack-line-with-pizza-stars-to-capture-untapped-audience) & [drpraegers](https://www.drpraegers.com/products/pizza-stars)  [Dr. Praeger’s](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dr-praegers-pizza-stars), known for its vegetable-based frozen snacks, introduced all-new [Taco](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ortega-cheezit-taco-shells) Stars and [Pizza Stars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tomato-veggie-pizza) made with vegetables as the first ingredient. Pizza Stars are cheesy, comforting bites that feature a cauliflower base and other nutritious additions such as whole-grain oats, cooked navy beans, and zucchini, plus plenty of savory Italian spices and seasonings to recreate the enjoyment of a craveable slice. Alongside Pizza Stars, Dr. Praeger’s launched Taco Stars made with black beans, corn, red peppers and mild taco seasoning. Like the Pizza Stars, Taco Stars are gluten-free, list cauliflower as the first ingredient and are easy to prepare in the air fryer. With these new launches, Dr. Praeger’s is evolving with its audience as they grow up, introducing flavorful, more adventurous bites designed to satisfy the tastes of older kids and tweens. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.6/10 - Popularity: 34% | Activity: 30% | Freshness: 44% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Gen Alpha - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Veggie-centric Snacks:** The rise of vegetable-first frozen snacks caters to health-conscious consumers seeking flavorful yet nutritious options. - **Plant-based Comfort Foods:** The introduction of veggie-based pizza and taco bites reflects the growing demand for plant-derived comfort foods that mimic traditional favorites. - **Convenient Air Fryer Meals:** The surge in air fryer-compatible products highlights the trend of simplifying meal prep through easy-to-cook snack foods. ### Where This Applies - **Frozen Food Market:** Innovative vegetable-based frozen snacks are reshaping the frozen food landscape by appealing to health-focused consumers. - **Alternative Protein Industry:** The use of beans and vegetables as primary ingredients illustrates an expansion in the market for plant-based protein sources. - **Convenience Food Sector:** The evolution of ready-to-eat veggie snacks aligns with growing consumer preference for quick, nutritious meal solutions. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Family-Friendly Pizza-Inspired Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dr-praegers-pizza-stars.md) - [Star-Shaped Veggie Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/southwestern-black-bean-crunchy-stars.md) - [Veggie-Packed Cheesy Macaroni Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mac-cheese-stars.md) - [Mexican Street Food Bites](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mexicanstyle-street-corn-cheesy-bites.md) - [Crunchy Veggie Burgers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crunchy-veggie-burgers.md) - [Delectable Veggie Burgers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/delectable-veggie-burgers.md) - [Stuffed Cauliflower Bites](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cauliflower-bite.md) - [Vegan Veggie Fries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vegan-veggie-fries.md) - [Limited-Edition Taco Pizza Bites](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/taco-pizza-bites.md)