Food was much simpler back in the day when nobody thought about what they were eating so long it offered premium taste and edibility. However, overtime, people have become increasingly aware of their diet as the most important prerequisite for a healthy life, and for a good reason too.
American youth are changing the rules of the food game by “obsessing” with superfoods and using Instagram to promote their ideal meals. Of course, as with many other industries, America has a pioneering hand in this movement, a desirable outcome especially with current eating patterns in the U. S. – a far cry from the regular dietary guidelines. Now, let us take a look at the new trends currently shaping the future of American eating.
Understanding the food
“Mindfulness” is one of the biggest buzzwords right now. It started with yoga and meditation and then moved on to fashion, interior design, and nutrition. Millennials are, of course, on the forefront of this tendency. They are making the change by insisting on the body-mind connection and its impact on the choice of products and the very production in the market. Sustainable, ethical, organic, vegetarian, holistic, and wellness are just some of the adjectives that will mark the food production in the years to come.
The ingredient list- more important than calories
In 2015 it was reported that for the first time since the states began tracking dietary trends, Americans have reduced the number of calories they are consuming on a daily basis. However, while the habits are slowly improving, there is still the issue of the efficiency of counting calories.
According to the National Grocers’ forecast, 2019 will be the year when we’ll stop glorifying the quantity, and start paying attention to the quality. This is bound to create a real boom in the whole foods market.
Science for individualized nutrition
A large part of the U.S. is on some sort of elimination diet, which means discovering foods you are particularly sensitive to, and eliminating them from your diet (e.g. gluten).
According to the report from the Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition, the U.S. ranks 21st out of 34 countries on the Food Sustainability Index, and the main reason for that is the incapacity to respond to nutritional challenges. NeuroNutrition and BioHacking look at how food affects the brain and cells and allow a more individual approach to supporting one’s lifestyle.
Adaptogens as a shield
Adaptogens are another novelty for the modern health conscious. While they are actually not a new thing, and they have been used in Ayurvedic and Chinese healing traditions for centuries, these plants are just now getting their much-deserved attention.
Different plants have a different way to help your wellbeing, but on the whole, all of them aid your body in handling stress. For example, some very efficient mitochondrial support products contain turmeric, an adaptogen that helps the body maintain healthy levels of blood glucose, proper antioxidant function, and corticosterone.
The farm-to-consumer connection
While there are 2.1 million farms across America’s rural landscape, only 8 percent of them sells food locally, trading directly or intermediately with consumers. This is expected to change due to the increased demand for farm-to-table meals. More consumers are striving to get closer to nature, and there is also a huge rise in plant-based products because of the popularity of the vegan diet. This is why the last year’s trends included meatless burgers and milkless cheeses.
Guilt-free snacks
A 2015 report from Mintel found that 94 percent of Americans snack at least once a day, and 50 percent snack up to three times a day, with the convenience being the most important factor in choosing a snack. A healthier approach to this “vice” is, therefore, most definitely welcome. The following year is expected to open the door for plant-based snacks such as coconut, nuts, beans, whole grains, and veggies. Also, America’s favorite peanut butter will get a healthier replacement in the form of seed butter (e.g., cashew, almond, and walnut).
Bottom line
From what you have read here, you can see that America is taking a healthier turn in 2019 and the years to come. For too long we have been slaves to bad habits and processed foods. Millennials are leading the way toward healthy snacks, science-based diet, mindfulness, farm production, adaptogen plants, and the quality of the ingredients.
