Sustainable, eco-conscious eating, foods that boost brainpower, and plenty of plants will be on the menu for all of us this coming year.
By Stephanie Thurrott Medically Reviewed by Lynn Grieger, RDN, CDCES
Reviewed: December 30, 2022
More people will be cooking at home to save money in 2023, and products like tinned fish and nondairy milk will be popular.
The cost of food has undoubtedly increased over the past year, and this trend will undoubtedly continue as we approach 2023. However, there have also been developments in plant-based products, the reduction of food waste, and functional foods and beverages that may give everyone something to look forward to in the coming year.
This may be the year that ethical, lab-grown meat is available for purchase, along with a good vegan fish sandwich. We spoke with Kelly Kennedy, RDN, staff dietitian for Everyday Health, and Bonnie Taub-Dix, RDN, author of Read It Before You Eat It: Taking You from Label to Table, both of New York City, to explore these and other recent trends. Here, they discuss the key healthy eating trends they believe will be prevalent in 2023.
1. Economical Eats
According to research from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food costs will continue to rise above historical average rates even though they won't increase at the startling rate they did in 2022, which was as much as 12 percent (USDA). Given that eating out is more expensive than cooking at home, more individuals will likely do so given that, on average, The NPD Group, a market research company, estimates that eating out costs more than three times as much.
It also entails trying to find ways to cut costs on groceries. Many people will need to hunt for affordable choices in order to stick to a budget, especially those with larger families, according to Kennedy. I firmly believe that consumers will be paying more attention to where they spend their money on food. Cheaper protein options, such as tinned fish and canned beans and legumes, can gain popularity at the expense of more expensive cuts of meat.
2. More Plant-Based Options
In relation to meat, expect to see even less of it in the coming year. According to a research in Progressive Grocer, 27% of individuals are preferring to eat less meat. As a result, there is a lot of interest in healthier alternatives. The Good Food Institute (GFI) claimed that sales of plant-based foods increased three times faster than those of other foods in March 2022. (PDF).
Burgers are the most popular plant-based meat product, but the GFI notes that producers are also increasing their production of sausage links, patties, chicken nuggets, tenders, and cutlets. The market for plant-based seafood is still limited, but it is expanding. Konscious Foods, a company formed by the same businessman who founded the meatless burger company Gardein, offers the first frozen vegan sushi and onigiri.
A research from Expert Market Research predicts that there will be more alternatives to other animal-based commodities including dairy and eggs. There are products like Just Egg and Zero Egg that provide options for vegans and individuals with allergies. Starbucks chose Just Egg to test in a new menu this year.
3. Plants In More Places
More meat, poultry, and seafood substitutes have emerged as a result of the focus on plant-based diets, but it has also given rise to inventive methods to prepare and consume fruits and vegetables.
According to Taub-Dix, many individuals are discovering that they don't have to become vegetarians in order to eat more plants. As more individuals try to meet the five-a-day rule, she observes an increase in inventive ways to prepare fruits and vegetables, such as using avocado or kale sauce in place of butter.
Manufacturers of packaged meals are responding to the demand for inventive plant-based products by adding fruits, vegetables, and legumes to everyday dishes like pasta. Stores like Whole Foods have variants prepared from chickpeas, lentils, edamame, spaghetti squash, green bananas, and hearts of palm. Because these pastas often contain more protein and fiber and less carbohydrates than traditional pasta, they may have less of an impact on blood sugar levels and allow those with food allergies or sensitivities to enjoy pasta. According to Taub-Dix, it's a terrific way to enjoy spaghetti without the guilt that so many people experience.
4. Cultured Meat
The first sale of cultured meat, often known as meat created in a lab, was approved by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in late 2022. Although the USDA must yet approve the product before it can be sold, it seems likely that will happen within the next year. By using its meat instead of conventionally farmed chicken, the producer, Upside Foods, seeks to lessen the negative effects of chicken farming on the environment and the ethics of the industry.
In the case of lab-grown meat, producers take cells from an animal and use them to grow meat. Although there is no need to harm any animals, it is biologically identical to animal flesh. Since it doesn't produce methane like grazing animals do, eating meat may have a lower carbon footprint. Additionally, it is less likely to spread diseases that can be contracted from eating animal products.
Compared to conventional foods, these foods may provide people with the ability to combat climate change, avoid antibiotics and undesired chemicals in meat, and gain more functional benefits from their diet. Taub-Dix notes that it is yet unclear whether the goods actually live up to their advertised claims.
5. Eco-Conscious Eating
More Americans are making food choices that are good for the environment as well as for their own health. As more individuals embrace sustainability at the grocery, climatarian diets are becoming more popular. Indeed, more than half of respondents in a 2022 survey by Cargill indicated they would be more likely to buy packaged foods if contained a sustainability claim on the label.
According to Natural Grocers, there's a more recent variation on this theme known as the "regenivore diet," which entails not only eating sustainably and healthfully but also actively contributing to ecosystem restoration by promoting strategies like regenerative agriculture and the reuse or "upcycling" of food components that were previously discarded during production.
More attention has been paid to food waste recently, but it is still a significant problem because, according to the FDA, more than one-third of the food produced in the United States ends up in landfills or compost piles. According to Kennedy, people are attempting to reduce food waste through meal planning techniques, but producers are also addressing the issue through upcycling.
For instance, Whole Foods Market declared that starting in the spring of 2023, it will start selling oatmeal chocolate chip cookies created using ingredients left over after the creation of oat milk in its bakeries. In order to combat food waste and climate change, Renewal Mill produces baking mixes from recycled materials. The company also produces beverages like Reveal, a prebiotic and antioxidant-rich beverage derived from leftover avocado pits.
6. Mood-Boosting Foods
While the emphasis has been on immunity in the wake of the pandemic, there is now interest in feel-good foods that help combat depression, prevent dementia, and enhance brain health. Interest in functional foods and beverages is still significant.
Brands advertising the benefits of foods and beverages containing caffeine, magnesium, B vitamins, and zinc for the brain are highlighted in the Mintel 2023 Global Food and Drink Trends study. The omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA are in high demand since research has shown that they reduce the symptoms of mood disorders, according to Natural Grocers. Natural nootropics, or compounds that assert to improve cognitive performance, are likely to be discussed frequently. Examples include L-theanine in green tea, ginseng, lion's mane mushroom, and gingko biloba. However, more research is necessary before deciding whether these compounds can genuinely be helpful.
7. More Mocktails
Alcohol consumption has decreased, and those who still do so aren't drinking as much. According to a 2021 Gallup survey, 60 percent of American people, down from 65 percent in 2019, regularly use alcohol. Additionally, they drink 3.6 drinks on average per week, the fewest since 2001. Kennedy anticipates that these patterns will persist, particularly into Dry January.
People are seeking for healthier and less-caloried ways to celebrate and have fun, she says, without drinking as frequently as they once did. In other words, they're turning to wine, beer, and spirits that don't contain alcohol.
According to My Food Data, non-alcoholic wine can contain only 9 calories per glass, light wine can have 73 calories, and most wines have between 109 and 120 calories per serving. And consuming less alcohol lowers your risk of developing alcohol-related health issues. Blake Lively, who introduced a line of nonalcoholic drink mixes under the name Betty Buzz, and Bella Hadid, who is associated with the adaptogenic beverage line Kin Euphorics, are two celebrities who have jumped on the bandwagon.
8. Food For Your Gut
Even though there are still many unanswered questions regarding the healthiest meals to eat and whether or not to take supplements, people are nonetheless concerned about taking care of their gut health. According to Natural Grocers, 44% of Americans say they have used vitamins in the past 12 months to try to improve their gut health.
According to Kennedy, "I anticipate that will continue to expand as more research demonstrates the direct impact that caring for your microbiota may have on your general health."
Yogurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, fermented cheeses, tempeh, miso, kombucha, and pickled vegetables are examples of probiotic-rich foods. Probiotics have also been recently added to various foods, particularly beverages, she has seen. Although they might be healthier options than soda, she cautions that this may not be the ideal way to consume them. As more is discovered about the nutrients required to sustain gut health, prebiotics and postbiotics will also play a significant role.
9. Seafood
Whether it's due to cost, taste, or availability, Americans still don't consume enough of these healthful foods, so producers are working to find solutions. Taub-Dix forecasts an increase in the consumption of canned fish, including less common options like mackerel, clams, and sardines as well as tried-and-true favorites like canned tuna and salmon. "Tinned fish is one of the least expensive types of protein you can buy, it has a long shelf life, and it's a terrific source of lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids," she explains.
These products, known as conservas in Europe, have been widely consumed for a long time. Now, manufacturers like Fishwife, Bela, and Jose Gourmet are attempting to appeal to the American market by creating goods with appealing visual appeal and packaging.
Another expanding category to assist non-fish lovers obtain their daily dose of omega-3s is "greens from the sea." According to Whole Foods Market, sea greens are available as a supplement and as an ingredient in packaged foods like crackers and noodles.
10. Natural Sweeteners
The Specialty Food Association states that while the war on sugar is still going on, more people are switching to natural sweeteners as they become more aware of the problems associated with artificial sweeteners. That entails consuming less ultra-processed foods and more healthy foods to satisfy sweet desires. Maple syrup, coconut sugar, fruit juices, honey, and monk fruit are examples of natural sweeteners. According to Whole Foods Market, dates and items produced from them are expected to become particularly well-liked as a result of a 2022 TikTok video that went viral and demonstrated how to utilize dates to create a sweet confection in the style of a candy bar. Numerous products, from hot sauce to baked delicacies, are sweetened with dates, including date syrup, date sugar, and date sugar.
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