By Sarah Prudencio
Green juice, kale, and matcha are about to be so 2016. Health food professionals have released a list of food trend predictions for 2017, assembled by a team of pro trend-forecasters who are experts at tracking consumer preferences and products.
Here’s the list of trends to be on the lookout for in the New Year:
Wellness Tonics
Expect to see healthful bottled beverages that pack powerful benefits from superfood ingredients pick up steam. Look out for drinks with add-ins including maca, turmeric, and apple cider vinegar (ACV). (FYI, turmeric has been shown to have antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties; and ACV may help regulate blood sugar and boost digestive health.)
Coconut Everything
We’ll take your coconut oil and raise you a coconut tortilla. Coconut is now popping up in the form of sandwich wraps, chips, and other “who knew that existed?” products featuring the fan-favorite superfood.
Japanese Food, Beyond Sushi
The Japanese diet has received praise over the past year, thanks to new research that linked the dietary practices (which involve loading up on fish, plants, and vegetables) to a longer life. But in addition to sushi, experts are anticipating less-expected ways that the diet will inspire your everyday eating. An example? More Japanese condiments may earn a permanent in your pantry, such as ponzu, miso, and sesame oil.
Creative Condiments
You may still be in a serious relationship with chipotle aioli, but expect to cheat on it with new taste bud-arousing dips like beet salsa, black sesame tahini, habanero jam, and ghee.
Rethinking Pasta
Noodles made from chickpeas, quinoa, and lentils are still gaining popularity (reminder, they’re gluten-free). For the “zoodle” fans out there, spiralized veggies will continue to own the spotlight, along with other exciting plant options, like kelp noodles.
Purple Power
We’re talking recipes and packaged snacks and foods that feature purple asparagus, purple cauliflower, purple sweet potatoes, black rice, acai…you get the picture.
Going Flexitarian
The New Year in nutrition will be about doing healthy, eating your way. Get used to the buzzword “flexitarian”; which typically means semi-vegetarian. But expect to see that definition expand to encompass any sort of personalized nutrition, or when you just don’t fit into a perfect strict diet category, like gluten-free or vegan. So if you’re a kinda-sorta meat eater, sometimes Paleo, other times not, so be it.
Mindful Meal Prep
In 2017, meal prepping will focus on more than trying to eat better, or hoping to save money on expensive and not-so-healthy lunches. The next level: being more cognizant of food waste and trying to stretch every grocery purchase into as many meals as possible, or using a make some-buy some approach (aka preparing a main dish from scratch and using store-bought items as side dishes).
Resources:
Andriakos, Jacqueline (2016, December 16). The Food Trends to Watch in 2017, According to Whole Foods. Retrieved from http://www.health.com/food/whole-foods- food-trends- 2017
About the Author:
Sarah Prudencio is the BaySport Fitness Program Manager for Visa, Inc in Foster City, CA. There she manages the health and fitness program at eight of Visa’s U.S. sites. She runs everything from group exercise classes to weight loss programs. Sarah graduated from California State University, East Bay with a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. During her stay at CSUEB, she was a 2 time NCAA All-Region volleyball player. She also completed her Master’s degree in Kinesiology at Saint Mary’s College. Sarah has an extensive background in athletics and she has passed on that knowledge through coaching. She is currently the assistant women’s volleyball coach at Archbishop Mitty High School as has many years of experience coaching high level club volleyball. Sarah was born and raised in San Jose, CA and while living her whole life in Northern California she has developed a love for the outdoors. She enjoys spending time with her husband and one year old son, Scott.
