Top 10 healthy food trends to look forward to in 2023
Sustainable, eco-conscious eating, brain-boosting foods and lots of plants will be on the menu for all of us next year.
While arguably the biggest food news of the past year has been rising grocery costs, which will no doubt continue to have an impact as we head into 2023, there have also been advances in plant-based products, food waste reduction and functional foods as well as in the new year Here might bring everyone some drinks to look forward to.
This may be the year we finally see ethical, lab-grown meat on the market and get decent vegan fish sandwiches. To discuss these and other emerging trends, we consulted Bonnie Taub-Dix, RDN, New York City, author of Read Before You Eat: From Label to Table, and Kelly Kennedy, RDN, nutritionist for Everyday Health . Here, they share their thoughts on the most important health food trends we're likely to see in 2023.
1. Economy diet
While food prices won't rise as dramatically as they will in 2022 (up to 12%), they will continue to rise above historical averages, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). That means more people are saving money by cooking at home, as eating out costs more than three times as much on average, according to market research firm NPD Group.
It also means finding ways to save on groceries. "A lot of people, especially those with large families, are going to have to find affordable options to stay on budget," Kennedy said. "I definitely think people will look more closely at where they put their food money." Inexpensive sources of protein, such as canned fish, canned beans and beans, are likely to become more popular, while more expensive meat May take a back seat.
2. More plant-based options
Speaking of meat, you're likely to see less of it in the New Year. According to a report by Progressive Grocer, 27 percent of people choose to eat less meat. Hence, interest in healthy alternatives is high. According to data released in March 2022 and reported by the Good Food Institute (GFI) (PDF), sales of plant-based foods are growing three times faster than whole foods.
In the plant-based meat category, burgers are the most popular, but manufacturers are rolling out more sausages, patties, chicken nuggets, tenders and schnitzels, according to GFI. Plant-based seafood is a small but growing part of the market, including the first frozen vegan sushi and onigiri from Konscious Foods, a brand founded by the same entrepreneur who launched meatless burger brand Gardein.
You can also expect to see more alternatives to other animal foods, including dairy and eggs, according to a report by Expert Market Research. Products like Just Egg (chosen by coffee chain Starbucks this year for testing a new menu) and Zero Egg offer options for allergy sufferers and vegans.
3. More places to plant
The emphasis on plant-based eating has not only spawned more meat, poultry and seafood alternatives, but also inspired new ways to eat fruits and vegetables.
"A lot of people realize they can welcome more plants onto their plates without becoming vegetarians," Taub-Dix said. She's seen an increase in creative uses of vegetables and fruit -- for example, replacing butter with avocado or kale dressing -- as people work toward the five-a-day recommendation.
Manufacturers of packaged foods are also responding to the demand for creative plant-based products by incorporating fruits, vegetables and legumes into food staples such as pasta. You can find varieties made from chickpeas, lentils, edamame, spaghetti squash, green bananas, and hearts of palm at stores like Whole Foods. These products allow people with food allergies or sensitivities to enjoy pasta, and contain more protein and fiber and fewer carbohydrates than traditional pasta, meaning they may have less of an impact on blood sugar levels. "It's a great way to eat pasta without feeling guilty like a lot of people do," says Taub-Dix.
4. Cultured meat
In late 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will approve the first sale of cultured meat, meat grown in a lab. While the product still needs USDA approval before it can be sold, that will likely happen in the coming year. Manufacturer Upside Foods wanted to significantly reduce consumption of conventionally raised chicken and its meat, while reducing the environmental and ethical impact of chicken farming.
With lab-grown meat, producers take cells from animals and grow meat from those cells. Biologically, it's the same as animal meat, but the animal doesn't need to be killed. It can reduce the carbon footprint of meat consumption because it does not produce methane gas like grazing animals. Also, less likely to spread foodborne illness es People can get from animals.
Foods like these might give people a chance to fight climate change, avoid antibiotics and unwanted chemicals in meat, and reap more functional benefits from the foods they eat than conventional foods. But Taub-Dix said it remains to be seen how well these products actually meet those claims.
5. Eco-friendly eating
More and more Americans are not only thinking about their own health when eating, but also thinking about the health of the planet. Climate eating is on the rise as people embrace sustainability in supermarkets. In fact, more than half of respondents to a 2022 Cargill survey said they were more likely to buy packaged food that included a sustainability claim on the label.
According to Natural Grocers, there's also a newer variation, which some in the industry are calling "regenerative eating," which not only involves eating healthy and sustainable, but actually doing it by supporting things like regenerative agriculture and reusing or "upcycling." practices to help restore ecosystems” parts of food that were previously discarded during the manufacturing process.
Food waste has come under greater scrutiny in recent years, but remains a huge problem, with more than one-third of the U.S. food supply ending up in landfills or compost heaps, according to the FDA. People are trying to reduce food waste through meal planning strategies, but manufacturers are also addressing the issue through upcycling, Kennedy said.
For example, Whole Foods Market announced that it will begin selling oatmeal chocolate chip cookies made with leftover ingredients from oat milk production in its bakeries in spring 2023. Renewal Mill is a brand that uses upcycled ingredients to create baking mixes to help fight food waste and climate change, and it even has drinks like Reveal, a prebiotic and antioxidant-rich product made from discarded avocado pits drink.
6. Mood-Boosting Foods
Interest in functional foods and beverages remains strong, and while the focus has been on immunity in the wake of the pandemic, there is now also interest in feel-good foods that can help fight depression, prevent dementia and support brain health interest.
Mintel’s 2023 global food and drink trends report highlights the brain-boosting benefits of food and drink brands touting caffeine, magnesium, B vitamins and zinc. Natural Grocers reports that the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA are popular because they have been shown to improve symptoms of mood disorders. Expect to hear a lot about natural nootropics, as detailed in the studies—substances that claim to enhance cognitive function, such as L-theanine in green tea, ginseng, lion's mane mushroom, and ginkgo biloba. However, the jury is still out on whether these ingredients actually help await further research.
7. More mocktails
Fewer people are drinking, and those who are drinking are not drinking as much. A 2021 Gallup report found that 60% of U.S. adults drink alcohol at least occasionally, down from 65% in 2019. People are drinking an average of 3.6 drinks a week, the lowest rate since 2001. Kennedy expects these trends to continue, especially in a dry January.
"People are looking for ways to celebrate and have fun without drinking as much as they used to, and with fewer calories," she said. That means they are buying non-alcoholic spirits, beer and wine.
According to my food data, non-alcoholic wine has only 9 calories per glass, while light wine might have 73 calories, and most wines have about 109 to 120 calories. Limiting your alcohol intake can reduce your risk of alcohol-related health problems. Celebrities joining the trend include Blake Lively, who has launched a line of non-alcoholic mixed drinks under the Betty Buzz brand, and Bella Hadid, of Kin Euphorics, an adaptive beverage line.
8. Gut food
There is a lot of interest in taking care of gut health, although there are still many questions about which foods are best and whether to take supplements. Natural Grocers reports that 44% of Americans say they have taken a supplement in the past 12 months in hopes of improving their gut health.
"I think this will continue to grow as more and more research shows that taking care of the microbiome has a direct impact on overall health," Kennedy said.
Foods that support gut health, called probiotics, include yogurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, fermented cheese, tempeh, miso, kombucha and pickled vegetables. More recently, she's also seen probiotics being added to other foods, especially beverages. "These might be a better option than soda, but it might not be the best way to get these things into your body," she says. Prebiotics and postbiotics will also play an important role as more is known about the essential nutrients that support gut health.
9. Seafood
Americans Still Don't Eat Enough Of This Healthy Food, Whether Due To Cost, Taste Or Availability, Manufacturers Are Struggle To Provide You
p provides methods to satisfy these needs. Taub-Dix predicts we'll see more people buying canned fish, whether it's tried-and-true favorites like canned tuna and salmon, or lesser-known options like mackerel, clams and sardines. "Canned fish is a great source of lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids, it's one of the cheapest types of protein you can buy, and it has a long shelf life," she says.
These products have long been popular in Europe, where they are known as conservas, and now brands such as Fishwife, Bela and Jose Gourmet aim to produce products with visual appeal and appealing packaging to appeal to the US market.
Sea-sourced greens are another growing category to help non-fish lovers get their dose of omega-3s. According to Whole Foods Market, you can find sea greens in supplement form and in packaged foods ranging from cookies to noodles.
10. Natural sweeteners
The war on sugar is still being waged, but now that more and more people realize that artificial sweeteners are not without risks, more people are turning to natural sweeteners, according to the Specialty Foods Association. That means more natural foods to satisfy sweet tooth cravings and less ultra-processed foods. Natural sweeteners include maple syrup, coconut sugar, fruit juice, honey, and monk fruit. Dates and products made from them are expected to be particularly popular, according to Whole Foods Market, thanks to a viral TikTok video in 2022 showing how to use them to create a candy bar-style dessert. You can find date sugar, date syrup, and a variety of products sweetened with dates, from baked goods to hot sauces.
From: everydayhealth.