5 Healthy Food Trends For 2016

Start 2016 off the right way and incorporate this list of superfoods to your shopping basket. Boasting numerous nutritional benefits, these 5 healthy foods are on trend for 2016 and you’ll be seeing a lot of them in trending recipes over the next few months, so why not get on the bandwagon and give them a go? Here’s what you need to know:

1. Seaweed

Dulse is a red algae and commonly known as a sea vegetable from the North Atlantic. Also referred to as ‘sea lettuce,’ dulse is packed with nutrients, making it a great superfood to add to your shopping list. Already popular with a select foodie crowd, dulse is set to be the new kale for 2016. Packed with potassium and iron, it makes the perfect substitute in many recipes – including dulse crisps, which are the healthy version of their potato counterpart. Iodine is also an important component which helps with the regulation of the thyroid gland and is found mostly in seafood and iodised salt. Dulse can be bought as dried strips or a bag of flakes and can be incorporated into many recipes or simply crumbled over soups and salads.

2. Amaranth

Step aside quinoa, because this is a new trendy grain for 2016. Cultivated by the Aztecs 8,000 years ago, Amaranth is no newbie to the food scene, but it has recently come back into foodie fashion for its range of health benefits and nutritious value. High in iron, zinc, magnesium and calcium, Amaranth has more nutritional value than many of its grain counterparts. The fact that this grain is gluten-free is what makes it so special because it is an important part of the gluten-free diet. With a thick porridge-like texture, amaranth makes a great thickener for soups, stews and breakfast porridges or puddings. Its light crunchy texture means that it is also great to be eaten as a snack.

3. Chia

Chia seeds are packed with protein – nearly as much as some nuts, which are great for a vegetarian diet. The tiny superfood seeds are also known for their omega-3 fats which are important for brain health. The fibre component of chia seeds is also high, with a 28-gram, or one-ounce serving containing 11 grams of dietary fibre. This is about one third of the recommended daily intake for adults and is a good addition to the diet for strong digestive health. With many other health benefits, chia seeds make a fantastic addition to any meal, and being flavor-less in nature means that they can be easily integrated, whether sprinkled on top of a salad or on toast, or milled into a smoothie for that added bit of texture.

4. Skyr

The traditional yoghurt of Iceland, Skyr is comparable in texture and nutritional composition to Greek yoghurt, but it contains slightly fewer calories because it is made with skimmed milk. High in protein and calcium, the nutritional qualities found in skyr are almost identical to those found in Greek yoghurt, except that this version is a little sweeter on the palette and is thicker in consistency. Promoting a range of probiotic cultures, skyr is great for maintaining a healthy gut – as the probiotics help with immunity and the body’s use of nutrients, keeping a generally healthy bacterial flora in the gut. Eat skyr solo, with fruits, or blend it into a healthy smoothie to incorporate it into your diet.

5. Kohlrabi

You may have spotted this vegetable at your last visit to the farmer’s market, and you’d probably have wondered what it was. Part of the cabbage family, kohlrabi boosts numerous nutritional benefits and at only 27 calories per 100g it is definitely good for the waistline. Mild and sweet in flavour, this vegetable falls between a turnip and a water chestnut and is also likened to a broccoli flavour with a crisp crunchy texture. Kohlrabi can be eaten cooked or raw and can be prepared in a number of different ways, including kohlrabi slaw, as crisps – much healthier than deep fried potato, and in soups and salads, depending on the season.

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