From hunting for cost-effective ingredients to planning budget-friendly meals, it's no secret that we've all been tightening our budgets as inflation runs rampant (have you seen the cost of eggs lately?). Every year, registered dietitians and nutritionists (or RDNs, for short) complete a survey called, "What's Trending in Nutrition," predicting which foods consumers will value most that year and their top grocery concerns.
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This year, the annual survey, done by Pollock Communications and Today's Dietitian, saw 757 RDNs respond.
This year, between pandemic-fueled health concerns and a cost-of-living crisis, RDNs predict we'll be looking for functional and valuable foods, prioritizing 1) affordability, 2) convenience, and 3) immunity support.
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Despite rising costs, they don't anticipate snacking to slow down. In fact, thanks to boredom, comfort, and working from home, they believe we'll just try to snack on more affordable foods that still provide valuable health benefits.
That being said, here are the top 10 foods they predicted will be sought out in 2023:
(Fun fact: All 10 foods fit into a plant-based diet for the first time in the 11 years of the survey.)
10.Non-Dairy Milks
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9.Ancient Grains
8.Green Tea
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Luckily, with matcha becoming a popular flavor in everything from lattes to ice cream, it's easier to incorporate more green tea into your day even if you don't drink tea.
(If you've heard of matcha but don't know what exactly it is, it's a finely ground powder of green tea leaves. However, the plants are grown a bit differently and more specially than general green tea plants.)
7.Aquatic Greens like Algae, Seaweed, and Sea Moss
6.Leafy Greens like Spinach
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They're chockfull of vitamins, fiber, and minerals, and you'll likely find (or use) them in salads as filling bases.
Check out a more in-depth comparison of chia and hemp seeds here.
1.Fermented Foods like Kimchi, Yogurt, Kombucha Tea, and Pickled Vegetables
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Kimchi, a traditional Korean dish of salted and fermented vegetables (typically napa cabbage and Korean radish), originated more than 3,000 years ago. Because South Korea has extremely cold winters, Koreans began fermenting and storing vegetables to stave off starvation. Today, it's served with almost every meal in South Korea, and there are now more than 200 types of kimchi on the market.
Fermented foods are rich in probiotics, which have been shown to support immune function, improve digestion, and more.
Do any of these foods make your Sunday grocery list? If so, how do you normally eat them? And what factors are you considering when grocery shopping? Share your go-to foods, how you prioritize 'em, and any good recipes in the comments below!