2023’s Remaining Months: Healthier Food Trends to Watch

If food serves as medicine and health acts as your guide, these food trends have the potential to profoundly impact your well-being, providing nourishment for both your body and spirit.

The food industry has evolved in response to changing consumer preferences, including an emphasis on mindful, sustainable, convenient, and nutritious eating. Many are now choosing a healthy lifestyle for a more fulfilling life. Gen Z, in particular, is leading the way in adopting mindful eating habits and introducing new healthy products to the market. However, a pressing question remains: Are they following the path to a healthy life correctly?

2023 Healthier Food Trends: A Healthy Life

Many individuals have turned to diets like Keto, Fad, or Gluten-Free for rapid weight loss without fully understanding the potential harm to their health. Dt Sannya A Arora, Founder of Ttranszerro, states, “Health is the foundation of all we do; without it, our dreams and aspirations remain unattainable. Therefore, to unlock a world of endless possibilities, embrace a healthy life. Often overlooked is the power of nutrition and a balanced diet, as well as the benefits of real food – home-cooked or whole foods free from preservatives, rich in essential vitamins and minerals.”

According to her, the current food and health trends include:

1. Rise of Plant-Based Diets: People are increasingly adopting plant-based diets, recognizing the unique benefits of phytochemicals, vitamins, and minerals found primarily in plant-based foods. Renowned cricketer Virat Kohli, for example, has transitioned from a strict non-vegetarian diet to a vegan one.
2. Growing Interest in Fermented Foods: There’s a growing awareness of the importance of fermented foods and beverages. Focus has shifted toward items like buttermilk and curd, with many individuals, including corporate workers, carrying bottles of buttermilk for added nutrition. The market also offers a variety of fermented products.
3. Corporate and Individual Health Emphasis: Corporations are increasingly investing in employee health, offering health allowances and building in-house gyms to support both physical and mental well-being.
4. Increasing Demand for Healthy Options: Restaurants, from dine-in establishments to takeout venues, are now incorporating healthier options into their menus. They create dedicated menus for health-conscious customers, specifying protein, calorie, carbohydrate, and fat content.
5. Shift from Refined Sugar and Processed Foods: People realize the negative impact of refined sugar and processed foods on health. As a result, there’s a shift towards natural, whole ingredients. Emerging brands meet demand for healthy snacks, offering trans fat-free, low-sodium, and gluten-free products.

2023 Healthier Food Trends: Changing eating habits

Ishit Pilani, Co-Founder of Organic Roots, explained that changing eating habits have sped up the growth of three major food trends:

1. Convenience – With our lives returning to a faster pace after a temporary pause, there’s a rising demand for convenient, ready-to-eat meals that are nutritionally rich. Healthy packaged foods are a prominent trend for 2023. Consumers are seeking meals as nourishing as home-cooked dishes but without the laborious preparation.
2. Reduced sugar consumption – Increased awareness of the negative effects of processed sugar has led to a decline in sugar intake. People are turning to natural sweeteners, opting for sugar-free, high-protein diets. Many consumers are now looking for clean labels, indicating no chemical preservatives or artificial ingredients in packaged foods. This awareness has also resulted in reduced consumption of processed foods.
3. Local sourcing and mindful eating – The discussion about sustainability and the consequences of our food choices has become more prevalent. This shift has redirected consumers’ attention to locally sourced and seasonal produce. Being mindful of what we eat has fostered practices of conscious food choices and portion control for a healthier lifestyle.

Therefore, the food industry has responded to evolving consumer preferences, with an emphasis on clean, nutrient-rich, natural food as the foundation of healthy eating. This growing trend toward a healthier lifestyle should be encouraged, promoting mindful and nutritious eating. Just as food can be seen as medicine, good health serves as our guide. Embrace this upward trajectory in healthy eating, as it has the potential to positively impact your life, nurturing both your body and spirit.

Read the original article on hindustantimes.

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