Food trends for 2015: Real food that promotes health

The start of 2015 is a great opportunity for a personal “reboot,” and is a chance to start the new year with a new you. The hottest trends in food and dieting in 2015 are about balance and adapting “real food” into a daily routine, so dieting goes away and is replaced by sound menu planning, consisting of not-so-exotic food.

Yale researchers, at the behest of the science journal publisher, Annual Review, looked into a number of diet trends including low carb, low fat, low glycemic, Mediterranean, mixed/balanced, Paleolithic, vegan, and elements of other diets. The researchers did not find that any specific diet was best, but they found that each of the diet programs included a common factor that provided for a healthy and beneficial path. “A diet of minimally processed foods close to nature, predominantly plants, is decisively associated with health promotion and disease prevention.”

So in 2015, out go the fad diets, and in come diets based on “real food.” The health and wellness experts at Mannatech, creators of nutritional supplements derived from natural and plant-sourced nutrients, have a set of nutritional suggestions that will help those seeking a reboot in 2015 get off to a strong start.

Organic, grass fed meat and dairy

Though the high-protein diets have not proven to be successful in the long-run, as part of a balanced diet, meat proteins are an important element of a healthy diet. For example, products from livestock whose diets are limited to grass and forage, such as legumes, naturally contain heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. Though the cost of these products can be high, the fact that they should only play a small role in a daily diet should offset the cost.

Fresh, fresh, fresh

Farm-to-market food that is organic and packed with nutrition will be at a higher demand than ever, with this demand driven by young people. According to a study by the NPD Group, a global industry research firm, “In addition to eating more fresh foods, Generation Z [ages 0 to 23] and millennial consumers [ages 24-37] are also interested in eating more organic foods.” This means the demand for farm-to-market products will increase in 2015, making it easier and cheaper for everyone to have access to fresher food.

Seaweed is so sweet

Because it’s highly charged with nutrients, seaweed will continue to find its way onto our dinner tables. Used as a supplement in smoothies, stir-fries and fresh salads, many varieties of seaweed deliver a nutritional punch that includes high levels of iron, calcium, folate and magnesium.

Green is good

Avocados continue to be a green giant when it comes to healthy food. A recent study by the Nutrition Journal found that portions of avocado can help curb a person’s appetite. Also, while kale is still going to be a favorite, vitamin-A-rich beet greens will push for more attention over its prickly cousin in sautés, salads and smoothies.

Plant-based protein

For vegans or those looking for ways to boost protein intake, peas, whole grains and nuts will become viewed as an alternative to soy products.

The bottom line is that fresh-food and balanced approaches to eating are taking the place of quick-fix fad diets. This means that anyone can adapt new, healthy habits into their daily routine. Better still, adapting “real food” into your daily routine offers long-term benefits — something an arduous diet simply can’t match.

 Discover Mannatech’s 30-Day Purification Program and start today!