It’s not far-fetched to assume that even those who shop Whole Foods Market on a daily basis discover new products each visit. With a revolving door of thousands upon thousands of products (RXBAR! Hemp Hearts! Tigernuts!) the aisles are peppered with countless staple and newfangled healthy products. Fittingly, as far as 2017 healthy food trend predictions go, the store’s picks are among the most compelling.
“Our teams of global buyers and culinary experts track consumer preferences all year long and watch what’s new in the marketplace to create our picks for the year ahead,” says Molly Siegler, Whole Foods Market’s culinary editor who worked on the report along with other experts and leaders who source products for the retailer’s more than 465 stores.
So here it is, the nine need-to-know healthy food trends that will shape the way we eat in the coming year. Here’s to a happy and healthy year filled with purple cereal, coconut butter and lentil pasta!
Images: Courtesy of Whole Foods Market
The 2017 Healthy Food Trends You Need To Know About
-
Products From Byproducts
Here's one zero-waste adherents will love: brands are finding innovative ways to make use of byproducts, like leftover whey from strained Greek yogurt and spent grains from beer. Examples include Eco Olea, which uses water from olive oil production as the base for a household cleaner line, condiment brand Sir Kensington’s repurposes leftover liquid from cooking chickpeas into a vegan mayo, and AtlantaFresh takes leftover whey from yogurt production to create probiotic drinks.
-
Creative Condiments
Move over ketchup, mustard and Sabra. In 2017, the condiment options will include a whole host of new and creative options, like black sesame tahini, habanero jam, ghee, pomegranate molasses, black garlic puree, date syrup, plum jam with chia seeds, beet salsa, Mexican hot chocolate spreads, piri piri sauce and Mina harissa.
-
Japanese Food Beyond Sushi
Americans have had a fascination with Japanese food for decades. Prepare to see the obsession go to the next level in 2017. Japanese condiments like ponzu, miso, mirin, sesame oil and plum vinegar will find their way into American pantries along with seaweed being increasingly offered as a savory green option. Also look out for Japanese-style pickles and boosted selections of mochi flavors, like matcha, black sesame and yuzu citrus.
-
Flexitarian
Expect diets to get more fluid — think eating vegan before 6:00 p.m. or eating Paleo five days a week or gluten-free when possible. This "flexitarian" approach to clean eating should alleviate many of the stresses associated with dieting, increasing the likelihood of success.
-
Meal Prep
Whole Foods Market has pioneered the "make some/buy some" approach to cooking and it will continue to grow with the rise of precooked ingredients — think preparing a main dish from scratch and using frozen or store-bought ingredients as sides. Oven-ready meal kits and vegetable medleys will also continue to rise.
-
Coconut Everything
You're already familiar with coconut oil and coconut water, but come 2017, prepare yourself for coconut flour tortillas, coconut sugar aminos, coconut flour, coconut ice cream, coconut butter and a host of other newfangled coconut-based products.
-
Alternative Pastas
If you've been salivating for alternatives to traditional white flour pasta, you'll be happy to see grain noodles made from quinoa, lentils and chickpeas on shelves along with an increased number of grain-free options, like spiralized veggies and kelp noodles.
-
Purple Power
Purple will be the color. Prepare for nutrient- and antioxidant-rich purple cauliflower, purple asparagus, elderberries, acai, purple sweet potatoes, purple corn and cereal. Back to the Roots Purple Corn Flakes, Jackson’s Honest Purple Heirloom Potato Chips, Love Beets and Frieda's Stokes Purple Sweet Potatoes are all products to look out for.
-
Wellness Tonics
Next year will take fresh-pressed juices to the next level. Expect to find a new wave of tonics, tinctures and wellness drinks that draw on beneficial botanicals and have roots in alternative medicine and ancient traditions. Among the buzzed-about ingredients are kava, tulsi/holy basil, medicinal mushrooms (like reishi and chaga) and adaptogenic herbs (maca and ashwagandha). Turmeric and apple cider vinegar will continue in popularity.
