6 Food and Nutrition Trends in 2022!
What sorts of food, diets and lifestyle trends will become popular this coming year?? To answer that we have to look at the year that passed, another year influenced by the pandemic where looking after yourself has never been more critical.
I find this to be very interesting and LOVE to dive into what people are obsessed with, both in good and maybe not-so-fortunate matters 😀
Good Read!
Healthy Aging
In the past year, we have become more obsessed with the connection between diet and brain, hair and skin. These are people who want to age normally but with the support of healthy food. According to Google Trends, keywords are collagen, omega-3 and supplements.
MY TAKE: I think it’s beautiful that people want to focus more on healthy ageing by using food instead of “quick fixes”! I’m concerned that it’s benefitting an industry that makes you spend loads of money on unnecessary products. Remember that drinking water, being out of fresh air daily, reducing stress levels and having a healthy diet will increase your chances of healthy ageing.
2. Superfood Drinks
The regular wake-me-up coffee is being swept with hot drinks and a typical “superfood” like matcha, turmeric, cacao, or hemp.
MY TAKE: Even though I enjoy a cup of turmeric latte/golden milk now and then, it’s more important to have overall healthy eating habits with vegetables, fruits, berries, fibre-rich foods and good sources of protein and fats than start “improving” your regular coffee/tea.
3. Living an Environmentally-Friendly Lifestyle
EatingWell.com saw an increase of articles related to food waste of 1,242% this past year. The number 1 reason that leads to food waste in our kitchens is to remember what we have in our fridge before it gets out of date. Reducing plastic waste is another trend amongst people who want to live eco-friendlier lives. Let’s hope it reaches the retailers, too!
MY TAKE: Doing good for others and showing compassion increases our well-being. Living in line with your values boosts your health and overall happiness. People want to be more conscious about their life choices but need help prioritising their hectic everyday lives. What do you think?
4. Improving Gut Health
Being backed by an overwhelming number of studies, the importance of a healthy gut, aka digestive system/gastrointestinal tract, has been shown to have tremendous benefits on mental and physical health. Another hot topic that has gained momentum during the pandemic.
MY TAKE: This shows that food is more complex than its macronutrients (carbs, fats and proteins), and this is where the quality plays a great deal in how different components from food work together in the body to support or depress your health.
5. Plant-based diet
Plant-based diets are still a growing area of interest for those who want to eat less meat and more vegetables and will also be relevant in 2022. People choose this way of eating for several reasons: animal welfare, climate change and/or health benefits.
MY TAKE: The amount of vegan/vegetarian/plant-based food products in the grocery store has increased massively, making choosing a meat-free meal easier. The challenge is understanding what nutrients you need when not eating meat or meat-related products and what these products contain.
6. Improving Immune System
If there’s one thing the last couple of years have shown us, having a good immune system can help limit illness if you become infected by COVID-19. Many businesses have seen their chance to offer various immune-boosting diets, supplements, etc.
MY TAKE: One food, drink or supplements can’t improve your immune system, but eating vegetables, whole foods, pulses, etc., over a more extended period of time is preferred😉