Over the last few decades, there have been many evolving food trends. From the 100-calorie pack snacks of the early 2000s to spiralized veggies and meal alternatives of 2010, we have seen a lot of food trends come and go.

Here are five key food trends I think will continue to emerge for 2022.

1) Functional Foods

Functional foods have additional functions beyond their basic nutrition. As we enter year two of living with COVID, I think it’s becoming clear that most people are looking to fill their diets with foods that offer additional health benefits.

An example of a functional food is garlic which due to its antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic properties boost the immune system and fight off infections. Another functional food is almonds. Do you remember hearing much about almonds 20 years ago? Then we discovered almonds are high in protein, healthy fats, vitamin E and offer many health benefits, particularly surrounding metabolic disorders, and all of a sudden, you see numerous products made from almonds (1).

I truly believe in the power of functional foods so much that I wrote a whole eBook on them! Click here to download my free guide “Functional Foods for Immune and Gut Health”.

2) Better Grains

Carbohydrates have certainly been demonized over the last decade causing many people to fear carbohydrates. Fueled by the rise in weight for the average American, diabetes, and less fear of fat, consumers want “better” grain options.

Have you heard about ancient grains? Besides quinoa, we are seeing ancient grains like amaranth and sorghum to name a few featured in grain alternative products. Ancient grains also fall into the functional foods category offering many benefits beyond their nutrients.

What about pasta? It’s not just made from basic flour anymore! There are vegetable-based, bean-based, and even oat-based kinds of pasta that contain way more fiber and protein than the traditional variety. The new varieties help consumers justify their weekly pasta craving knowing it is offering a lot more nutrient benefits.

The same goes for the bread and wraps aisle, you can find them made from almond flour, chickpea flour, even cassava flour! This is also wonderful for those who have celiac disease or gluten intolerance as many of these “better” grain options are naturally gluten-free.

Consumers are more aware than ever about carbohydrates and desiring a lower and better carbohydrate diet and so I believe we are going to continue to see better grain options in the supermarket this year.

Are you still afraid to incorporate carbs into your diet? Read more about carbs here.

3) Digestive Wellness

Did you know that 60-70 million Americans are affected by a digestive disease (2)? That’s a big number! Most digestive issues are linked to a person’s diet and so consumers want more foods that benefit their gut health.

There is a focus on foods that are good sources of fiber like whole grains for digestive wellness. Fiber helps us feel fuller longer, stabilizes blood sugar levels, aids in regular bowel movements, and studies show it may lower the risk of colorectal cancer (3). Consumer now have a greater knowledge of the power of whole-grains and they want to see more products made from them.

Probiotics are another huge trend in digestive wellness. Touted for their beneficial properties to promote “good” bacteria’s in the gut, most people who have ever experienced any gut issues have tried incorporating probiotics in their diet. The market for kombucha and kefir have both grown enormously over the past 5 years and I believe this will remain steady.

Another big trend is non-dairy milk products as an alternative for people who are lactose intolerant or cannot handle dairy products. There are now different types of milk made from almost any kind of nut, soy-based, pea-based, and the winner at the moment - oat-based products. As someone who doesn’t consume dairy, it is so nice to be able to go grocery shopping or out to eat with friends and 99% of the time, find a non-dairy alternative.

This food trend will continue to explode as more consumers are becoming aware of foods that aid in digestive health.

4) Nutrient Density

I’m pretty sure I mention “nutrient-dense” in almost all of my blog posts :)

I can’t help it! When I began practicing mindful eating, I got in touch with what my body needs, and that fuels most of my food choices which revolve around these nutrient-dense foods.

There are many definitions for nutrition density but a basic definition is the number of beneficial nutrients in proportion to the total energy content of the food. You can read more about it here.

Examples of nutrient-dense foods include kale, spinach, berries, eggs, beans, and mushrooms versus poor nutrient-dense foods like chips, candy, and soda. Not saying there isn’t room for poor nutrient-dense foods in our diets occasionally! Check out this post here to learn more about nutrient dense food options.

Many food brands are even calling out nutrient-density on their food labels making consumers more aware of the term and desiring to focus their diets on such foods.

It’s like my long-term stock analogy - we know these are great companies to invest in and we are going to hold for the long haul to reap all the benefits. The same goes for nutrient-dense foods, we are going to invest in these foods and see all of the benefits through great health in our bodies for years to come!

5) Mood and Mind

Busy lifestyles, COVID, and demands of the day-to-day are creating a stressed population. Mental health is more important than ever and consumers are using food as a proactive way to take control of their mental health and wellbeing.

One survey found that 40% of consumers are very interested in mood-based food and beverages (4). As a result. nutritional options that offer physical and emotional wellbeing benefits are thriving.

For example, Lifeway organic kefir brand lists mood as one of the reasons to have kefir on their website saying, “there have been studies linking kefir to a balanced gut, an increase in serotonin levels, and a decrease in the risk for anxiety and depression” (5).

The Functional Chocolate Company uses calming ingredients in their chocolate along with marketing the mood-improving benefits naturally found in cocoa.

I think we are going to see a lot more of this food trend in 2022 for improving mood, reducing fatigue, and good sleep.

What food trends for 2022 are on your radar? Leave a comment!

References

1. Martins, I.M., Chen, Q. and Chen, C.Y.O. (2016). Emerging Functional Foods Derived from Almonds. In Wild Plants, Mushrooms and Nuts (eds I.C.F.R. Ferreira, P. Morales and L. Barros). https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118944653.ch14

2. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/digestive-diseases

3. Barber TM, Kabisch S, Pfeiffer AFH, Weickert MO. The Health Benefits of Dietary Fibre. Nutrients. 2020;12(10):3209. Published 2020 Oct 21. doi:10.3390/nu12103209

4. Innova Market Insights. 2019 Consumer Survey.

5. https://lifewaykefir.com/9-reasons-to-drink-kefir/