Top Healthy Food Trends to Watch This Year

What we all prefer is – saving money, sustainable eating, and a lot of plants in our menu for better health. 

How can we forget our current food habits that are all about immunity boosting shots, cheese, and pickles in almost everything?

But did you know that food and nutrition plays an essential role in the development of chronic diseases, and diet impacts day-to-day functioning, energy levels, and even our mental health and mood.

Still confused? Well, let’s keep it in a side, and first dig deeper to gain some insights on the emerging trends! 

Economical Eats

If we talk about trends, home food will be ahead of everything else.

With the increasing demand for home cooked food, they will be costly. 

As per the studies conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the food prices will go up higher up to 1.2 percent, while if you are eating away from home, it will cost you about 5% more. 

So, it will be a wise choice to choose an affordable option in case you have a larger family. The inexpensive protein sources such as canned beans and tinned fish will remain popular. However, the expensive meat will still secure its place in the meal. 

More Protein, Less Meat

The protein trends will stay, even in this year, but it is for sure that people will look for the meat alternative that is plant-based food. 

Further, they will surely increase their intake for eggs, tofu, beans, cheese, and even bread to complete their protein goals. For various people, there will be two concerns – 

• Save Money
• Animal and environmental ethics

Even more than the protein products, mushrooms, tempeh, walnuts, and legumes will gain huge demand over the complex meat alternative. 

At last, the boom for the plant-based diet arena will stay in the spotlight. As per a research and market report, by 2028, the plant-based food market will cross $75 billion from $41 billion that was in 2022. 

Eco-conscious Drinking

From 2023, an interest in minimizing food waste for environmental conservation will continue and this time, it will focus more on sustainable water sourcing. 

Further, the non-gov. organizations are also showing their support to natural filtration of water and the restoration of coastal ecosystems. 

As per studies conducted by the Food and Drug Administration, the food waste is less, but still a big issue. 

More than 1/3rd of the U.S. food supply is going to landfills. In the past, meal planning was the one that helped families to manage their household waste. 

Functional Foods

Have you paid more than $10 to buy a juice that is an immunity booster? No? Well, it’s good. You have a lot of time to follow this trend. 

According to an industry report, from 2022 to 2030, the U.S market will grow up to 9%. Functional foods are a foodstuff that provides various health benefits more than just the basic nutrition. 

They are more for specific health and mental benefits that include the prevention and treatment of diseases. 

People are turning to food, and taking it as a medicine. In fact, the White House has also developed a food as medicine initiative that helps reduce any nutrition-related diseases and food insecurity. It entirely focuses more on improving health and racial equity. 

Some other examples of functional food include magnesium-containing nuts and milk that helps in muscle relaxation. Further, a chocolate with added valerian helps improve sleep. There are various countless foods that contain fiber for better gut health. 

Some nutrients such as probiotics, antioxidants, and fiber are great examples of functional foods.