As you probably know, I’m not a fan of food trends. Most food trends come and go and they leave you constantly guessing what you should eat.
It’s gotten to the point where some of my clients open their refrigerator and wonder if there is anything in there they can eat without crossing into forbidden territory.
My simple philosophy is that food is medicine and when we learn what foods truly fuel and help us thrive, we discover the power to heal ourselves and feel our best.
So, in an effort to team up with you this year, we wanted to explore some of the biggest trends and give you some info on whether you should try them in the first place.
Keep in mind that no matter what the food trends say, it’s best to understand your particular needs and get advice from a nutritionist, doctor or counselor to see what might help you.
Food Trend No. 1: The Explosion of Seed Butters
Over the last few years, almond butters and cashew butters have quickly replaced the old stand-by, peanut butter as everyone’s go-to source for healthy monounsaturated fats and antioxidants.
Nut butters are great for adding to smoothies, apples or even veggies for a quick and healthy snack, but do seed butters pack the same punch?
Seed butters are nothing new. Tahini (made from sesame seeds) has long been a staple in the middle east, but this year you’re going to start seeing seed butters EVERYWHERE.
Anything from sunflower, pumpkin and even watermelon seed butters are going to pop on your shelf for you try and add to your daily diet.
As a functional nutritionist, I can fully get on board with this trend – with a simple caveat. Seed butters are a great source of good fats and can be a wonderful alternative for individuals with nut allergies, but if you’re going to buy them, make sure that the brand you buy has no added sugar and is made with just seeds and salt (sea salt is preferable).
Food Trend No. 2: Easier to Use Bone Broth
You might have noticed the explosion of collagen rich bone broth in 2018. Food and health magazines were touting its various benefits including glowing skin, healthy skin and gut healing.
But, if you’ve ever tried to taste bone broth, it can be a little unpleasant for some. Mixing it in smoothies, lattes or matcha’s can help, but overall it’s a little hard to swallow at times. And, if you’re a vegetarian or vegan, you begin to wonder how you too can start to benefit from this trend.
Overall, bone broth is a good source of natural collagen, but we recommend that you use broth made from grass fed or pasture-raised bones. Using it as a base of any soup can be a good way to start using bone broth and in 2019, we expect that there will be dozens of new recipes and products waiting for you to grab.
Things like marine collagen powders for vegans and ready to go products with the broth already “built-in”. I recommend steering away from anything that is processed (always) and go for the organic, grass-fed versions so you can test out your own recipes.
Food Trend No. 3: Sugar is Still the Enemy
Ok, so maybe this one is not so much a new trend, but something we’re happy to see. By now, you’ve probably become aware of the fact that sugar is added to almost everything you eat. Things you wouldn’t think contain sugar, contain sugar.
It’s a sure bet that you’re going to see more and more sugar detoxes and companies moving away from sugar to go back to more natural ways of cooking.
Even if your recipes call for added sugar, try to go without it. We promise you won’t miss it. Natural alternatives to sugar, such as honey, molasses and maple syrup will still take center stage in recipes, but keep in mind that while some alternatives may have lower glycemic indices than sugar, they have more calories – which can lead to weight gain.
But, when you have to go for something sweet (don’t we all?), we recommend trying fruits first and then using recipes that do replace refined sugar with a lower glycemic index when possible – especially if you are diabetic or have adrenal fatigue.
Food Trend No. 4: More Water Options
For the last several years, we’ve seen an explosion in options to help us hydrate. As if plain old water isn’t enough, we’ve seen the likes of coconut water rise to miracle
status with claims that it does a better job hydrating – especially after a night out on the town.
This year we’ll see the rise of other kinds of water such as maple water, cactus water and water infused with such things as aloe vera or honey.
While the addition of flavor can make drinking water more palatable, be aware that added sugars to your water can spike blood sugar. Plus, some of the claims made by these new “super” waters is a bit dubious.
Your best bet?
Drink at least half of your body weight (in ounces). of water per day. If you’re struggling with the taste, add a little lemon, orange, mint or cucumber – or a few drops of pure grade essential oils to help you get your full quota in for the day.
Food Trend No. 5: The Mushroom Bloom
Maybe you’ve heard . . . mushrooms are good for you. In fact, while there have been a large number of published studies in recent years, civilizations have been using mushrooms for their healing properties for thousands of years!
An estimated 50% of edible mushrooms are considered functional foods, which means that they have a positive effect on health above and beyond basic nutrition.
Studies have shown they can boost your immune system and reduce overall inflammation. They may also be able to alter gut bacteria – which can be helpful if you’re trying to lose weight. They’ve also been shown to support blood sugar balance, promote brain, liver and respiratory health and even boost energy.
Nutritionally, edible mushrooms contain degrees of protein and fiber. They also contain vitamin B and a powerful antioxidant called selenium (which is said to help prevent damage to cells and tissues).
Naturally, companies are trying to take advantage of the mushroom craze, so expect to see a flood of supplements, drinks, foods and other products containing mushrooms. As always, we recommend that if you’re hoping to cash in on the mushroom revolution that you begin to experiment and cook more with this fun-guy (ok, I couldn’t resist – fungi).
We also would recommend that you talk to your health care practitioner about which supplements might give you the same added benefits – we often recommend Pure, M/R/S Mushroom Formula (you can find it on our website)
The last trend I saw pop-up recently is a host of companies talking about the body’s ability to heal itself.
This is one I can get behind – but you have to understand how your body works first in order to ignite its powerful ability to heal.
When you learn how your body works through things like genetics, hormones, stress and other factors, you can learn how to use food as the medicine to heal and kick in the body’s natural defense system.
One of the biggest mysteries for people in understanding what I do – is well, really understanding how what I do will really help them. More than simply administering a food plan, we combine education, coaching and ongoing support to help your body do what it’s supposed to – heal itself.
To help you overcome some of the challenges your facing – whether it’s weight loss, dealing with a chronic illness, hormonal changes, aging or other dietary issues – I want to help you take advantage of special pricing we’re offering this month.
We know you want to start the new year off right, so let me help you!
This month we’re offering the following specials to help you get in and get ahead of your health:
- 50% off an initial consultation. That’s a savings of over $100. During this 1.5 hour consultation, we’ll go over your personal history, have a greater understanding of some of the factors that impact your personal health goals and create a plan that you can implement going forward. We’ll also make recommendations on how you can move forward and prioritize your health, long term
- 15% off of all our weight loss packages. We know that there are cheaper options out there, but the truth is that none of them offer long-term solutions. Our weight loss programs combine the know-how, support and weekly coaching we know works. Our clients tend to effectively lose weight and keep it off long term – so, you’ll only be doing this once.
To take advantage of our special offers, please call us at 954-727-9006 and ask for Alexia or email her today at Alexia@merylb.com to schedule an appointment.
