Big hair in the 1980s, grunge music in the 1990s, and low-rise denim in the early 2000s are only a few examples of new trends that have emerged in each decade. The same thing occurs with the food we consume. There are some old standbys, but various dishes cycle in and out of favor in the public consciousness — and there’s a whole new crop of food trends ready to take over this year. See you later, juice cleanses and cake pops!
We expect that food patterns will shift away from indulgence and people will start making investments into a more health-conscious diet this year — and with promises like improved gut health and higher nutrient density, including these so-called balanced foods in your diet may seem like a no-brainer. However, not every dish, ingredient, protein, or vitamin is produced equal. These foods make exaggerated statements, lose nutritional value in the manufacturing process, or are more common than they are healthy (or all of the above).
Oat Milk
It all depends on how you drink oat milk. If you’re looking for a creamy way to sweeten your coffee in the morning but don’t want to use almond milk, oat milk is a perfect option for you. “Oats are extremely heart-healthy and contain beta-glucans, which can help keep cholesterol levels in check,” Registered Dietitian Nutritionist at the Good Housekeeping Institute Stefani Sassos said. However, it does have a low protein and fiber content compared to making investments in other plant-based milk alternatives.
Plant-Based Proteins
Plant-based proteins like Impossible Burger and Beyond Meat are undeniably good for the world. Synthetic meats are sustainable but these are not so much about health benefits. The water is becoming a little muddy. “When comparing nutrition facts, many of the famous plant-based burgers (such as Impossible Burger and Beyond Meat) aren’t much different from a traditional 80/20 beef burger,” Sassos mentioned. “Eating these plant-based burgers won’t save you any calories or saturated fat because many of these types are heavily processed.” If you’re looking to make investments in an environmentally-friendly burger, these are excellent choices. However, they aren’t any better for you than the real thing when it comes to health benefits.
Mocktails
Soberly intrigued? You’re probably not the only one who feels this way. Credits to a Nielsen poll, 66 percent of millennials say they are making a deliberate effort to reduce their alcohol intake. Curious Elixirs, for example, is capitalizing on the trend by offering alcohol-free cocktails.
“Taking a break from alcohol will help your body naturally detox while also lowering your calorie intake,” as mentioned by Sassos. “If you’re going to have a mocktail, just keep sugar in mind and go for something with a club soda base.”
Korean Food
Credits to Yelp, Korean cuisine experienced an increase in popularity in the United States last year and would probably be the most popular cuisines this year. What’s one dish to keep an eye out for? Kimchi is a Korean condiment, which contains probiotics – commonly found in fermented foods like this one. “Kimchi and other probiotic-rich foods will help replenish the ‘right bacteria’ in your gut because they are high in safe probiotics,” Sassos said.
Kombucha Beer
Kombucha was credited as one of the biggest trends last year. The beverage, like kimchi, is fermented and therefore high in natural probiotics. As a result, this boozy version may seem to be the best way to drink booze. However, if you’re concerned about your gut well-being, you may be better off sticking to ordinary kombucha. “The probiotics used to produce alcoholic kombucha are either destroyed or removed before they’re packaged, so customers aren’t getting any of the health-promoting bacteria’s benefits,” says Ali Webster, Ph.D., RD, from the International Food Information Council’s Associate Director of Nutrition Communications.
Ube
You would have heard of this one if you haven’t already. The Filipino yam, credited as the “fresh matcha” by others, is rich in nutrients such as fiber, potassium, the antioxidant anthocyanin, and vitamin C, which gives it its picture-perfect hue. According to Yelp, the Instagram-favorite ingredient is one of the fastest-growing searches. However, before you get too excited, keep in mind that this lovely purple treat isn’t inherently healthier than other ice cream flavors. “Ube is always mixed with sweetened condensed milk, cream, or sugar, which defeats the intent of eating this lovely tuber,” Sassos explained.
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