Top 10 Healthy Food Trends of 2019
We spend a delicious amount of time in our lives eating, so it’s no surprise that healthy food trends set the pace for what will affect your diet that year.
After all, that’s why organic food has become one of the most trafficked areas of the supermarket, gluten-free options are now on the menu of every respectable restaurant in town and, we can safely assume, at least one child was named Kombucha within the last year.
To kick off the New Year, Nikken Foods USA agrees with industry insiders on top food trends for 2019:
1. VEGANS STEP OUT OF THE SHADOWS
Experts agree that Vegans are stepping out of the shadows and into the best year of their lives. With more and more restaurants and chefs recognizing how delicious non-meat and dairy dishes can be, vegans are dining alongside foodies who have embraced what once seemed an impossible future as Impossible Burgers are now as close as your local White Castle.
2. AND CABBAGE TAKE CENTER STAGE
Even non-vegans are eating all their veggies as more and more plants play the lead role in entrees. Cabbage leaves have successfully edged carbs out of your favorite enchilada and lasagna dishes thanks to some serious flavor blasts. Consider Nikken’s 2300 Vegetables Extract Powder (which is a Chinese cabbage extract) and our 2310 Roasted Chinese Cabbage Extract Powder (which is downright delicious) to enhance your favorite meals.
3. IT’S (A LOT) EASIER BEING GREEN
Finally, Green trends go beyond just color to affect environmental issues as eco-conscious packaging shows up in a big way in 2019. Your favorite food brands aren’t just being transparent about their nutritional information, but also their culture and ecological footprint as many are designing environmental-friendly packaging, eliminating straws altogether and even adopting BYO packaging considerations that let you bring your own bowl from home.
4. OUT WITH SUGAR…
At this point, consumers agree that dieticians, restaurants and their parents missed the mark in the 90’s by labeling fat as the enemy and letting added sugars sneak their way into our lives and eating habits. Now the FDA has let the big brands know that addressing sugar on food labels must change by 2020, which means that John Q Public is now part of the “anti-sugar movement” and won’t be so quick to indulge in 2019. If you’re looking to reduce sugar, keep Nikken’s umami based ingredients nearby to make the process easier.
5. …IN WITH UGLY
As more food consumers grow aware of the world hunger and environmental impact that food waste has enabled, they’re adding the incredibly edible yet undeniably ugly pieces of produce to their shopping carts. Several grocers and a few clever start-ups are even creating programs to encourage a revamped produce-picking practice so even the misshapen and bruised bits get their day in (food) court.
6. CLEAN LABELS FIGHT DIRTY FOR YOUR HEALTH
As restaurants and food manufacturers seek ways to remove MSG and other less-than-desirable ingredients without sacrificing very-desirable flavor, consumers can expect to find more and more clean labels in their meal thanks to natural ingredients and advanced technologies designed by organizations like Nikken Foods. From soy sauce powders to salt replacements (seaweed, anyone?) taking center stage on meat, fish and veggie dishes, these natural ingredients are receiving accolades from chefs and food technologists around the globe.
7. DIETS INDULGE IN (HEALTHY) FAT
You can thank the Keto, Paleo and Vegans who focused more on protein and less on carbs last year because they’ve helped us discover just how important (and delicious) the healthy fats can be when eaten in moderation. Avocados, nuts and eggs are just a handful of the convenient snacking foods that will fill you up without filling you out.
8. DRINK TO YOUR HEALTH
As today’s food continues to lean into healthy trends worth considering, consumers are finally facing some “better-for-you” choices with alcohol. Have you been to a cider bar lately? A rising trend of its own, these kinds of gluten-free options have become an important consideration by brewers. As a result, low-alcohol ciders are sky-rocketing in popularity alongside natural wines and session IPAs. Plus, 2019 will be the first year you’ll likely find Kombucha on tap at bars.
9. WATER RIDES THE WAVE
KIND brands, known for their healthy snack bars, is calling it the year of “H2-Wh0a.” Get ready to see the most common hydrator evolve from just being infused with your favorite fruit or vegetable to finishing what coconut water started. In 2019, water will take on more of your vitamin, mineral and flavor needs with refreshing options such as maple water (with less than half the sugar of coconut water) and cactus water (an excellent source for skin revitalization).
10. FLAVOR ALONG THE PACIFIC RIM
Asian flavors have always inspired complex dishes across the world, but now, a quick walk across your supermarket will show you just how deeply our food habits and seasonings have become ingrained with Asian cuisine. From the rising influence of Filipino ingredients to the influx of Korean cuisine to some delicious new takes on Miso soup or Dim Sum dishes, foodies are eagerly embracing the American/Asian fusion of flavor that is pushing the boundaries of these unique, authentic flavors. With our home based in Asia, Nikken has you covered for all things Asian!
As you can see, these food trends of 2019 leave us with a lot to look forward to this year. To learn more about the exciting and exotic ingredients, flavors and recipes that will be influencing the food industry in 2019, be sure to visit nikkenfoods.com.
