Diets consisting of seeds, fresh fruits, and vegetables while being preservative-, antibiotic- and GMO-free will continue to gain traction in 2016, experts say.
Experts from Today’s Dietitian and Pollock Communications believe “clean” eating or shopping will be among 2016’s biggest food trends. “Clean” eating refers to a diet that’s mostly made up of fresh fruit and vegetables and avoids processed food.
Today’s Dietitian and Pollack Communications conducted a survey of registered dietitians and found broad agreement that more consumers will base their purchasing decisions on clean eating while shopping for foods that fit a plant-based diet, such as a Mediterranean-style diet.
At the same time, seeds should be a bigger part of consumers’ diets in 2016. Fifty-five percent of registered dietitians said seeds have super food star-power, displacing kale as a trendy food source. Avocados are expected to be nearly as popular, along with ancient grains, Consumer Affairs reported.
Consumers will continue to express a strong preference for “free”: foods free of genetically modified organisms (GMO), gluten and antibiotics. 2015 was the year of “cage-free” eggs, with nearly every fast food chain and several food manufacturers pledging to use only cage-free eggs by some future date, Consumer Affairs reported.
“While consumers may look for GMO-free or other ‘free-from’ claims on the label, it doesn’t mean that it has always led to healthier, more nutritious options,” said Jenna Bell, Ph.D, RDN, senior vice president, director of food & wellness for Pollock Communication.
She warned that an unintended consequence of choosing “free” foods could be that consumers might not assess the overall healthfulness, consider food safety issues, understand truly sustainable practices, or might pay unnecessary costs, Consumer Affairs reported.
It all comes down to making the right decisions for your family. “Make decisions based on the quality of the whole food and the variety and quality of your overall diet,” Bell said.
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