Okay, I promised that I would bring them to you! After spending a very LONG weekend at Expo West – the largest natural product expo in the world, I identified 4 distinct food trends for 2013, and here’s what and who they are:
FUNCTIONAL CHIPS
A chip is no longer just a chip. If you love munching on the little guys as I do (aka “pigging out”,) you’ll be thrilled to hear that you can now have you chips and eat them too! Functional chips are chips that eschew the regular corn or potato, which BTW, we eat way too much of. Instead, they use fresh veggies, sprouted grains and all kinds of yummy healthful ingredients. My favorites from the show were Kale Crunch. Kale Chips are HUGE, and this brand is completely addictive. Might be pricey, but with the growing obesity epidemic among kids, let’s feed them these instead. I also love Way Better chips – they are made from sprouted grains, which are better for you because they are easier to digest, and arguably full of way more nutrients than un-sprouted grains. Not only are they healthier, but they are way more delicious than any corn or Tortilla chip that I’ve had the pleasure to munch.
GLUTEN FREE
This had been on trend for a few years now, but it’s reaching its zenith with most of the major natural food companies offering gluten-free products. One of my favorite new products is Pamela’s Artisan Flour Blend. It’s unique because it acts just like regular wheat or all-purpose flour. This is not the case with most gluten-free mixes, so great to have finally found one that I can substitute 1-for-1, and get the results I would expect for virtually any baking recipe. Pamela’s also carry my fave gluten-free pancake mix, which can also be used to make scones and yummy muffins.
Amy’s Kitchen is a front-runner in the gluten-free ready-to-eat space. They have the best gluten-free pizzas on the market, and by far the best almond shortcake cookies I’ve ever tasted.
SUPER FOODS:
This is the first year that super foods have taken center stage. Everyone’s going nuts about these South American exotic foods, which boast a dense nutrient profile and a mega shot of antioxidants. The main products to catch my eye were from a fantastic fair-trade company called Essential Living Foods. They source their foods from Ecuador, where they make sure that the small family farmers they work with, make a fair wage and get treated well. Moreover, they are driven by sustainable ethics, making sure that they put back what they take out. I intrigued by their Jungle Peanuts – large, stripey nuts, which are raw and full of so many important nutrients. What makes them different from your regular can of Planter’s nuts? Quite a lot! Primarily they are Aflatoxin-free. Most peanuts are contaminated with mold, which is why they need to be sprayed with multiple fungicides. This is because of the Aflatoxin – even after roasting, these molds can still impact your health. Jungle peanuts don’t contain this kind of mold. They are a raw, living food, are are infinitely healthier than your regular peanut.
Essential living foods also offer a wide array of other super foods. One of which is their Smoothie Mix, which I absolutely love because you get your mega antioxidant shot in one scoop. I like to add it blend it with almond milk and 1/2 a banana.
(BTW: If you get the chance, watch some of the fascinating videos of the farmers in the Amazon who are providing these incredible foods.)
Another great super food mix company is Organic Meets Good (aka OMG!). I love their stand-up pouches of delicious smoothie mix, which are great to travel with. Their Macqui Berry powder smoothie mix is insanely sweet and delicious, and the berry itself has the highest anti-oxidant content of any fruit on the planet!
Another great super foods company is Navitas Naturals. They have a new product that they’ve just rolled out this year called Dragon Fruit, which is about the healthiest “fruit leather” on the planet.
COCONUT PRODUCTS & SPREADS
Coconut is the craze. I saw coconut milks, creamers, yogurts, chips and more.
I love to cook with Raw Virgin coconut oil, and one of the best I’ve found is made by the soap company, Dr.Bronners. Some people think coconut oil is on a par with Crisco as far as heart health is concerned, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Clinical research confirms that VCO improves blood cholesterol by increasing the ratio of HDL to LCL cholesterol, due in part to saturated medium chain fatty acids (MCT’s) such as lauric acid. Dr. Bronner’s Virgin Coconut Oil is organic and fair-trade. You can either buy the whole kernel oil, or the white kernal. The whole kernel is a little nuttier and more flavorful. Coconut oil has a very high smoke point, so is great for frying.
For those of us who want to avoid butter and margarine, there’s now the most amazing alternative. Melt has come out with a super-healthy buttery spread, which can be used in place of butter because it spreads and melts. It is seriously delicious, and comes in 3 flavors: original, honey, and chocolate.
Last but not least, nut butters are going the extra mile. If you dare to taste a peanut butter, which will have you addicted in seconds, you need to sample PB Crave. They have 4 mouth-watering flavors, but the Coco Banana is insane – it’s this velvety, banana-ry butter, which is studded with dark chocolate chips!
Sunbutter is a great alternative for kids who can’t eat peanuts. It’s made from sunflower seeds and is so delicious!
