What’s Trending in Healthy Food?

Here are the latest health foods to look for on supermarket shelves.

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Photo by: FredFroese

FredFroese

Every year the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics holds The Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo, where I learn about the latest nutrition research and food trends. This year the centennial celebration took place in Chicago, and I got the inside scoop on the newest products you’ll be seeing on store shelves.

Convenience Food Makeovers

Food companies are making over convenience foods by revamping ingredients and packaging foods in grab-and-go containers.

Zupa Noma: These soups conveniently packaged into drinkable bottles are made with a vegetable base and combined with foods like kale, coconut, and turmeric. Flavors include Tomatillo Kale Jalapeno, Yellow Pepper Turmeric, and Cucumber Avocado.

Healthy Choice Power Bowls: The frozen food aisle has been getting a make-over for several years, but you’ll now find healthy version of bowls in the freezer section. Flavors include Adobo Chicken, Cuban-Inspired Pork, and Korean-Inspired Beef.

Whole Grains Made Easy

Whole grains still trendier than ever, with new packaging and creative ways to eat them.

Munk Pack Oatmeal Fruit Squeezes: With time being our most precious commodity, these fruit squeezes make eating a whole grain breakfast or on-the-go snack a breeze. Each pouch contains gluten-free oats, and they’re vegan, non-GMO and BPA-free. Flavors include Peach Chia Vanilla, Maple Pear Quinoa, and Raspberry Coconut.

Grainful Frozen Entrees: You may think of oats for breakfast but this company created a yummy line of savory oat-based meals that are filled with fiber. Varieties include Jambalaya, Unstuffed Pepper, and Vegetarian Chili. 

Kodiak Cakes Flapjack and Waffle Mixes: These delicious breakfast favorites are made with 100% whole grains and 8-14 grams of protein per serving. The line includes Whole Wheat Oat and Honey, Buttermilk Power Cakes, and a gluten-free option.

Minute Ready-to-Serve Cups: To make portion control a breeze, Minute created a line of single-serve grain cups including brown rice, brown rice and quinoa, and white and red quinoa. Whether you cook it stovetop or in the microwave, you can heat and eat in 2 minutes.

Grain-Free Options

With Paleo and Whole30 still trending, you’ll find even more grain-free options hitting store shelves.

Kitchfix Grain-Free Waffles: These waffles are made from cassava and coconut flour and are both nut and grain free. Flavors include Original, Banana Cinnamon, and Blueberry Maple.

Cali-Flour Foods Cauliflower Pizza Crust: This pizza crust is made from a blend of cauliflower, cheese, eggs, and spices. Flavors include Original and Red Pepper and contain 60 calories and 2 grams of carbs per one-third of a 9-inch size pie.

Cybele’s Free To Eat Veggie Pastas: This tasty pasta line is free of the top 8 allergens (including gluten) is made from veggies and legumes. Varieties include Green Lentil, Kale, Spinach and Broccoli, Red Lentil Pumpkin and Butternut Squash, and Green Lentil, Parsnip and Cauliflower. Although marketed to kids, I found the pasta to be adult-friendly too.

More Dairy and Dairy-Free

Dairy is popping up in new and exciting ways in both dairy and dairy-free forms.

Redwood Hill Farm Goat Milk Kefir: Making an appearance in the dairy aisle is this line of artisan dairy made from goat milk which has a different composition of casein and whey compared to cow’s milk. Redwood Hill Farm showcase their kefir which is made with 11 live and active cultures, and is in line with the gut-health trend. Flavors include Plain, Vanilla, and Blueberry Pomegranate Acai.

Muuna Single-Serve Cottage Cheese and Fruit Cups: This underappreciated, protein-packed dairy food is brought to life in easy-to-tote single servings of cottage cheese and fruit. Flavors include Strawberry, Peach, Mango, Pineapple, and Plain.

Bolthouse Pea Protein Milk: Pea protein has been trending and now you’ll be seeing it in a beverage form. This veggie-based beverage is the newest flavor to the Bolthouse line of non-dairy plant-based milk alternatives. 

Veggemo veggiemilk: This veggie-based beverage in made from a combination of pea protein, tapioca, and potato and is free of soy, nut, gluten, and dairy. Flavors include Unsweetened, Plain, and Vanilla.

Snack Attack

We have become a snacking nation, and you’ll be seeing these innovative snacks popping up.

Biena Chocolate-Covered Chickpeas: I’m a longtime fan of Biena roasted chickpea snacks, and am thrilled to see their chocolate line which includes Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, and Salted Caramel.

Cocoburg Coconut Jerky: In line with the plant-based trend comes a vegan jerky made with young coconut meat and flavored with coconut aminos. Varieties include Original, Chili Lime, and Ginger Teriyaki.

That’s It Veggie Bars: This line of bars has savory flavors like Beans + Carrots, Beans + Kale, and Beans + Peas. Each bar has less than 100 calories and has 4 grams each of protein and fiber.

Buzz-Worthy

These two products sparked a lot of conversation among the dietitians attending this year’s show.

Chosen Food Avocado Mayo: This avocado-oil based mayo is non-GMO, and nut, gluten, and peanut free. The taste and mouthfeel is as close to mayo as you can get. The varieties include Traditional, Harissa, Coconut, and Wasabi.

La Colombe Draft Latte: These lattes-in-a-can come with a frothy layer of silky foam. One can provides 130 calories, 4.5 grams total fat, 2.5 grams saturated fat, and 0 grams of added sugar. Additional flavors include Coconut Milk, Chai, Vanilla, Mocha, and seasonal Peppermint Mocha.

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