Food trends change like the seasons – one day you’re in, and the next you’re out. With spring upon us, there are many new food trends that will help you lighten up just in time for summer.
Vegetarian comfort food:
Recreating traditional comfort foods using vegetables is a big trend for spring. Examples include, cauliflower fried rice, lasagna that uses eggplant or zucchini instead of pasta, and cauliflower pizza crust.
This trend is worth including in your diet because it is recommended to consume at least 5-9 servings of vegetables daily, so using vegetables as a grain replacement will help you achieve this goal.
Greens that reduce food waste:
While kale and traditional greens are still popular, the new trend is eating greens that reduce our waste. Examples of this include, beet greens, turnip greens and carrot tops. This new “root-to-stalk” way of cooking is a great way to maximize usage of the whole vegetable, including the parts that one would typically throw away. This trend is a tasty and nutritious way to get your greens in, all while reducing your carbon footprint. An example of this is utilizing broccoli and cauliflower tops in a stir-fry, while using the stems as a crunchy snack for dips like tzatziki sauce or hummus.
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From burrito bowls, to poke bowls, this is a trend that is picking up steam this spring. Eating food from bowls decreases the amount of carbohydrates in your diet, while still having the benefits of the protein and healthy fat present in most bowls. In addition, eating from a bowl versus a handheld option helps you to slow down for better digestion, promote gastrointestinal health and mindful eating.
Coconut products:
Coconut based products have been catching everyone’s eye, and it’s not just coconut oil that is trendy this spring. Examples of this delicious food trend include coconut milk, coconut flour, coconut aminos (a soy-free alternative to soy sauce!) and even coconut sugar! What makes coconut products so amazing is their versatility, how simple they are to incorporate into recipes, and their high nutrient content.
One of the most recent trends, coconut sugar, is lower on the glycemic index, which means it won’t spike your blood sugar like traditional white sugar. While it can be a bit pricey, coconut sugar packs quite the punch, providing you with low levels, of iron, zinc, calcium, potassium, essential fatty acids and even antioxidants! Use this product as you would traditional sugar, simply swap out white sugar for coconut sugar in any recipe, from cakes to cookies.
Schedule a consultation with a Nutritionist to learn more about your specific dietary needs.