Healthy Foods and Superfood Trends for 2019

February 14, 2019

Whether due to the keto diet craze or increased awareness of clean labels, more Americans are selecting foods that improve health and wellness. Here are the top 10 healthy foods and superfood trends for 2019.

Fermented foods like yogurt and kefir. Yogurt continues to be enormously popular for digestive health but kefir is quickly gaining ground. Kefir is thinner than yogurt and typically consumed as a drink. Most people who are lactose intolerant can drink kefir. Kefir has more fat, protein and probiotics than yogurt, making it great for gastrointestinal health, which in turn can boost your immune system.
Plant-based fruits and veggies. Billions of people worldwide eat only plant-based foods. These are foods with few or no animal products and are derived from plants. It includes vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes and fruits.
Avocados. Avocados contain potassium and vitamins like B, C, and E. Not only good for a simple snack on toast, avocados are great in scrambled eggs, as a mayonnaise substitute on sandwiches, grilled or baked.
Seeds. Loaded with fiber, protein, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, these tiny-but-mighty snacks are nutritional powerhouses that satisfy hunger any time of the day. Keep a stash of pumpkin, hemp, chia, sunflower or sesame seeds in your desk or kitchen cabinet.
CBD oil foods. Now known as the “go-to remedy for whatever ails you,” CBD oil can enhance metabolic and cognitive functions. In 2019 it will continue to expand into more CBD-infused foods. The most common are hard candies, gummies, chocolate, soda and recently, coffee.
Golden berries. Native to South America but now grown in North America as well, these bright, yellow-colored berries are also known as Peruvian groundcherry or Inca berry. They have a sweet, sour, tropical taste similar to mango and are loaded with antioxidants and vitamins A, B and C. Golden berries help keep your digestive system humming along and combat free radicals. Snack on fresh or dried golden berries, add them to smoothies, salads and sauces.
Tahini butter. The new almond butter, tahini butter is made from ground sesame seeds and is non-dairy. It’s a staple in the Middle East and a common ingredient in hummus. It’s like almond butter but with a savory flavor and loaded with good-for-you unsaturated fats and is a wonderful source of calcium, vitamins and minerals including naturally occurring manganese, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, selenium and thiamin.
Ancient grains. Move over quinoa, farro and teff are taking over. While farro’s been around for thousands of years, it’s recently become popular as an alternative to rice. From Mesopotamia, farro is derived from wheat and is jam-packed with fiber, nutrients and antioxidants. About the size of a poppy seed, teff has a sweet, light flavor and comes in a range of colors from white and red to dark brown. It’s been a staple in Ethiopia and Eritrea for centuries. Farro and teff can be used on top of salads, in grain bowls or even in baking.
Nuts. Almonds, pecans, pistachios, walnuts, cashews, brazil nuts and hazel nuts are some of the healthiest and tastiest treats you’ll find. Chock-full of healthy levels of unsaturated fats and essential fatty acids… great news for heart health.
Non-dairy milks. In addition to almond milk, you’ll find pecan milk, macadamia milk and now oat milk. New oat milk is all the rage since it tastes similar to dairy milk and is lower in calories.