Beverages With Benefits
Along with alcohol-free drinks, beverages that claim to do more than just quench your thirst are on the rise, per the Whole Foods report. These so-called “functional beverages” claim to help with everything from stress relief to gut health to immunity. The category isn’t new, but it’s expected to grow as “increasing awareness of health is anticipated to propel the demand,” according to a May 2021 report by The Business Research Company.
“I started seeing more functional beverages pop up at food shows and expos several years ago — but at the time, I didn’t think they would take off,” says Kelly Jones, RD, a sports dietitian and owner of Student Athlete Nutrition in Newtown, Pennsylvania. “Now, many plant-based functional beverages are widely available, everywhere from Whole Foods to Walmart, showing that it’s something consumers really want and are enjoying.”
You’ll find Koia, Poppi, and Olipop with prebiotic ingredients for microbiome support, Elements and Remedy Organics with adaptogenic ingredients such as ashwagandha and maca root, probiotic juice shots from So Good So You, and functional sparkling water meant to harness your energy from Good Idea.
Seeded Foods
While foods made with sunflower seeds are a top 2022 trend, per the Whole Foods report, all seeds are trending. One reason for the major popularity uptick? Seeds are a nutritionally similar replacement for nuts, an increasingly common food allergen. A study published in April 2021 in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice shows that the annual incidence of peanut allergies increased from 1.7 to 5.2 percent between 2001 and 2017.
“Over the past few years, we have seen an increase in products that use seeds as a key ingredient, and I’m excited to see this trend continue to rise in the coming year,” says Nicole Stefanow, RDN, a culinary dietitian nutritionist in Ramsey, New Jersey. “Seeds may be tiny, but they deliver big on nutrition.” Indeed, all seeds boast a trio of fiber, protein, and heart-healthy fats.
Sunflower seeds in particular may have heart-health benefits, suggests a study published in July 2021 in the Journal of Food Science and Technology. The study of 60 men with high cholesterol found that those who regularly ate bread made with sunflower seed flour had a significant reduction in their body mass index (a measure of weight per height), LDL “bad” cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglycerides.
TV Dinners 2.0
“With the working-from-home switch that the pandemic brought, more families and individuals are looking for convenience,” says Karla Giboyeaux, RDN, a clinical dietitian in New York City. “For people who have a hard time meal planning and cooking at home, gourmet ready-made meals are convenient.”
Found in the supermarket’s refrigerated or frozen section, these prepared meals are tastier and more nutritious than those of the past as well (although sodium levels can vary, so if you are watching your intake, checking nutrition labels is a good idea). Capitalizing on another trend, many are plant-based, like Freshly’s Purely Plant meals and those from Factor 75. Frozen straight-to-your-door picks include Mosaic Foods and Daily Harvest.
“Many of my clients want to reduce waste and limit their trips to the grocery store to save time,” says Christa Brown, RDN, a private-practice dietitian in Woodbridge, New Jersey. “They also want gourmet food and the ability to diversify their meals without the hassle of finding a recipe and learning how to cook it properly and shopping for all the ingredients.”
Plant-Based Omega-3s
For years, the omega-3s conversation has been all about EPA and DHA, the omega-3s fatty acids you’ll find in fatty fish like salmon. But we can’t dismiss their plant-based sister, ALA. While you need a plentiful amount of ALA omega-3s for your body to convert them into EPA and DHA, we’re hearing more and more about the nutrient’s benefits — and food sources that score high in ALA. Research published in 2016 in the Journal of the American Heart Association revealed that people with a high risk of a heart attack who supplemented a high-fish diet with ALA omega-3s — in particular, from walnuts, almonds, and hazelnuts — had a significantly reduced risk of death. In fact, walnuts are the only nut that provides an excellent amount of ALA, according to research published in October 2019 in Nutrients.
“Plant-based omega-3 fatty acids are going to be a food trend of interest,” says Andrew Akhaphong, RD, a registered dietitian at Mackenthun’s Fine Foods in Minneapolis. “Since the pandemic hit our nation, many consumers have sought ways to make their budget last longer, as the costs of certain products have increased due to supply chain disruptions. Many people have decided to change their dietary habits toward sustainable food options, such as plant-based foods.”
