Healthy Food Trends for 2012
This week’s Mamavation post suggested we share our latest healthy food discoveries. I decided to use this topic as an excuse to research recommendations from around the internet. Here are some great new foods I’ve found and look forward to trying.
Artisan Multigrain Breads-It used to be that you had to seek out a local baker to get high-quality artisan breads. Now, chances are your local market is baking up specialty breads right in the store. Look for breads made with heart-healthy oats, whole-wheat flour, barley, millet and whole-grain rye.
Brussels Sprouts-Once considered cabbage’s “smelly” cousin, the Brussels sprout is gaining in popularity. The veggie is packed with 130% of your daily value of free-radical-fighting vitamin C per 1-cup serving (proof there was a reason your mother tortured you so many years ago). When cooked properly, this veggie tastes great!
Raw local honey-New evidence supporting a tablespoon a day to reduce seasonal allergy symptoms. But don’t simply add honey to your diet, use it in place of refined sweeteners on toast, in oatmeal or coffee.
Flaxmeal-The health community is buzzing about omega-3 fatty acids. Flaxseed and flaxmeal (ground from flaxseed) are rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a plant-based omega-3. ALA may help to lower inflammation and increase blood flow in the body, reducing the risk of high blood pressure and blood clots. Try sprinkling flaxmeal on your morning cereal or adding it to a smoothie.
Gluten-Free Baking Mixes-Gluten-free products are everywhere now with the growing awareness of celiac disease, gluten intolerance and gluten sensitivity. Eating gluten-free used to mean kissing your love of delicious bread and baked goods goodbye, but no longer: now you can have your (gluten-free) cake and eat it, too, when you use one of the great gluten-free mixes available today.
Greek Yogurt-Thicker and more tangy than traditional yogurt, Greek-style yogurt has become an everyday staple for many cooks. A 6-ounce serving of nonfat Greek yogurt has 15 g of protein, 5 g more than traditional nonfat plain yogurt. (However, if it is calcium you are after, stick with traditional yogurt that hasn’t had the whey drained from it-it has 34 percent of your daily value per 6-ounce serving, three times more than Greek yogurt.) Creamy and delicious, Greek yogurt makes a homemade tzatziki sauce or healthy dessert quick and easy.
Heirloom Tomatoes-Old varieties of tomatoes are making a comeback. Varieties like Gold Nugget, Aunt Ginny’s Purple, Big Ben and Red Zebra are now showing up in your neighborhood market. Like all tomatoes, they are an excellent source of vision and bone-healthy vitamin A.
Chia seeds-Besides being the butt of chia-pet jokes, chia seeds are seriously high in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. Unlike flaxseed, you needn’t crush them to absorb the nutrients. Use like flaxseed, over hot cereal, in salads and in baking. Throw a handful in muffin or pancake batter for extra nutty crunch.
Kefir-Think yogurt in a glass. This fermented dairy beverage is packed with beneficial probiotics that may help give your immune system a little extra edge. Look for it in your local market; choose plain for less sugar and fewer calories or fresh fruit flavors, such as peach and raspberry, for extra taste. With 29 percent of your daily value of calcium per 8-ounce serving, kefir is the perfect choice for an on-the-go morning.
Multigrain Tortillas-When it comes to tortillas, there are more options for shoppers than ever before. Forget basic flour-now you can find whole-grain tortillas with added heart-healthy flaxseed or B vitamins. You’ll get more fiber when you choose whole-wheat or whole-grain over white-flour tortillas.
What do you think the healthy food trends will be for 2012?
The Chia Co produces Chia in harmony with nature, with environmental guidelines followed rigorously and farming practices applied with long-term sustainability in mind. The Chia Co products are all made from 100% natural Australian Grown Chia seed. Chia products are mild tasting and easy to include in the every day diet as they can be added to any meal. Chia is the richest plant based source of Omega 3, dietary fiber, protein and antioxidants. We refer to Chia as Nature’s Complete Superfood because it is very high in nutrition that is essential for a healthy diet including Omega 3, dietary fiber and protein as well as vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. It contains: 37% Dietary Fiber, 20% Omega 3 ALA, 20% Protein.
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I <3 <3<3 Kefir!! My friend, Chris, turned me on to it a few years ago when it was extremely hard to find locally! Now they have it in most of our local stores. It's a little pricey but I find it very filling and can get me through more than one morning per bottle!
) Great post!!
You have definitely hit the high points of what I have heard more about lately. Have always wanted to try Kefer and Chia, but have been too scared to go ahead and buy them.
Hi Jen,
Love your list, very good suggestions. It should be the healthy food trends of all time.
Take care,
Tatianna
Love the list of suggestions… I love sprouts they are yummy but I am the only one in the family. But we do use flax in different foods just sprinkling it in so the boys don’t even notice it.
Thanks for the great suggestions, I have A LOT to learn!!
Besides the ground flax seed, which I love for my bread baking, I think flaxseed oil should be on the list.
One trend I love is embracing good fats again… nuts, avocados, oils, etc. It is okay to not go “fat free” anymore.
Thanks for the great list.
Thanks for stopping by ladies. Good additional ideas Megan and Andrea.
Love Kefir, Greek Yogurt, Flax, honey, and multigrain breads/tortillas!
Trader Joes is one of my favorite places to pick up stuff like that.
Earth Balance butter spreads are yummy and they use flax in them.
Have a great week!
Those are some really cool things
I always struggle to find good honey, but all other things really rock!!
I love these foods. I have been wanting to try the greek yogurt and incorporate more seeds into my diet.
Thank you for sharing!
Awesome list! I have just started eating greek yogurt. YUM! I love trying new foods and can’t wait to try some of this stuff.
Your posts are always my favorites! I’m always excited to stop by. Hope you are feeling good
I could definitely add some of these to my diet particularly chia seeds, kefir and Greek yogurt
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I’ve tried to add a lot of these to my diet this year…..CANNOT DO THE BRUSSEL SPROTS =b
stopping in with M2R from vB
Good list, but the gluten free products are a ridiculous trend unless you’re in the 1% of the population with celiac disease. This article, by Rob Bent (B.S. and M.S. in Food Science and Human Nutrition and founder of Nutrition Perfected in NY) provides good information: http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/the-gluten-free-trend-99-nonsense-3795537.html
These are good ones! I do eat a yogurt a day, and my belly is so much better for doing it. It’s my lifesaver! I’ll look into that drink one…thanks!
We borrowed a cookbook from the library that I used to learn how to make artisan whole grain breads at home. Now we don’t even buy bread; I make all of it at home.
Thanks for a great list!
Great list of healthy foods to concentrate on! Will have to give them a shot! Thanks for sharing.
great selection on healthy food! My ultimate fave is greek yougurt. I really can’t get enough of it. I must have it on a daily basis
and I am glad that the little one also likes to share it with me. I’ve read so much about the importance of local honey as it helps fight the virus around the local vicinity so I am totally in search of that now 
Spanish Pinay
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I can attest to the power of LOCAL honey as an allergy aid. I started adding it to my multiple daily cups of teas and in about 4 days, my eyes felt better and in another 5-6 days, my sniffles started going away
Hi Jenn,
I just read your post” Healthy Food Trens for 2012″
For me is difficult to find helathy food even organic one…
Because I say that always in the news we have bad headlines about food… I hope the basic one we have bread and fruits is still healthy…
Now I just don’t pay to much attention it anymore because this thing scary me to much..
Greek yogurt is still good for me… The rest food no to much about them but your post is good I will back to check it again:)
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