A new year always seems to usher in new resolutions. It also means the release of a list of hottest food trends for the year ahead.
Here are some of the foods that made that list for 2018:
Pulses: this group includes chick peas, lentils, kidney beans, peas and other beans. Their nutritional benefit was brought into the spotlight the past 2 years, but this year they are being added to pastas and snack foods as a way of decreasing the carb and fat content and increasing the protein of these foods. Some examples include Explore Red Lentil Penne, Birds Eye Steamfresh veggie-made Zucchini Lentil Pasta, Beanfields bean and rice chips, Saffron Road Baked Lentil chips and Biena chickpea snacks.
Riced vegetables: riced cauliflower was all the rage this past year, and continues to be. What’s new this year is lots of other vegetables are joining the trend. Examples include riced broccoli, squash, carrots and beets. This is a wonderful way to get in the required vegetable servings daily, even for those who don’t really love their veggies. To make it even more appealing, there’s no work required - these riced vegetables are sold in frozen bags ready to be steamed/microwaved, then enjoyed. They often have no other ingredients, but some do include seasoning and added flavors.
Tip: to avoid added sodium or other additives, buy the plain version and season on your own as needed. Look in the freezer section of your local market for these convenient and nutritious veggies.
Dairy alternatives: this can be very useful for those with milk allergies as well as vegetarians and vegans. However, not all of them are healthy options, so buyer beware. Coconut milk has been a popular one but this isn’t always healthier than cow’s milk since its loaded with saturated fat. Some healthier products include those made with pea protein, which is similar to cow’s milk and provides up to 8 grams of protein per serving. Other new products on the market include cashew milk, almond milk, and even oat milk. While almond milk is not new this year, it has been very popular because of its very low calorie level. What’s important to keep in mind is that it is a poor source of protein. The best dairy alternatives should provide about 7 to 8 grams of plant-based protein and should be labeled “unsweetened”. They should contain as few ingredients as possible and should be fortified with the same vitamins and minerals as cow’s milk, which includes vitamins A and D. Some healthy options include: Ripple Unsweetened Pea Milk and Bolthouse Farms Non-Dairy Unsweetened Plant Protein Milk.
Enjoy the new food trends now that you have the inside scoop.
Happy, healthy New Year!