What healthy types will be eating in 2016

SAVOURY yoghurt, cold drinkable soups and seaweed popcorn will apparently be the snacks of choice for health-conscious folk in 2016.

HERE are four trendy and nutritious foods popping up in the New Year that you might want to explore (and two things that we’ll be glad to see the back of).

On the rise ...

Fermented foods

Kimchi.

We know sugar is out, but now sour will be in! Fermented foods like kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi and pickles will be appearing on restaurant menus and supermarket shelves in the New Year. The fermentation process not only preserves the food, but also creates healthy enzymes, Omega-3 fatty acids, B-vitamins and probiotics that can aid in digestion. Try adding sauerkraut to soups. Be adventurous and try a fermented drink like Kombucha.

Savoury yoghurt

Will you give savoury yoghurt a go?

Greek yoghurt has been popular for quite some time, and manufacturers are now getting creative with flavours. Trends include mixing fruit with a savoury twist like ginger and orange, feta and watermelon, as well as olive oil, seeds and spices. Greek yoghurt is a nutritional powerhouse loaded with protein, probiotics to promote healthy gut bacteria, Vitamin B12, calcium and vitamin D. New flavours will make this healthy food even more versatile: dip with crudités, use as sauce for chicken or fish, or toss in dry roasted edamame for a deliciously savoury protein and fibre filled snack.

Cold drinkable soups

Chlodnik — a cold polish beet soup.

Convenience will still be key in 2016. Consumers drank cold pressed juices filled with nutrients from fruits and vegetables everywhere this year. While it appears juices are here to stay, watch for a new trend of cold drinkable soups as snacks or even meal replacements. These soups offer the convenience of juices with added fibre, which will keep you full for longer periods of time and boast less sugar.

Seaweed popcorn

Seaweed popcorn — a healthy snack food.

Keeping in line with the trend of savory over sweet, seaweed popcorn will make an appearance in 2016. Why try it? Popcorn is a fibre-rich, gluten-free healthy snack. . No longer just for sushi, seaweed contains vitamins A and C, as well as iodine, an important nutrient in maintaining a healthy thyroid. Try it as a snack or make a healthy savoury and sweet trail mix by adding a high fibre cereal and dark chocolate chips.

We’re glad to see the back of ...

Overhyped waters

H2O is the building block of life — which probably makes it a very easy thing with which to tinker. In 2015 we saw Bulletproof’s FATWater — fruit flavoured water with droplets of MCT oil derived from coconut oil that purportedly boosts energy and promotes weight loss. Then there was birch water, touted as the next coconut water. While these products, and many others, taste pretty good, science has pretty much confirmed that the best thing to quench to your thirst is plain old water.

Kale

Hear us out, kale- diehards. The fad is over. It’s not even the most “nutritious” vegetable you can buy per ounce. In June, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention ranked 47 of America’s most common fruits and vegetables and watercress, Chinese cabbage, Swiss chard, beet greens and spinach all blew kale away. So let’s experiment with some different leafy greens next year.

Originally published as What healthy types will be eating in 2016