GIANT nutritionists share top five nutrition trends for 2017

Are you seeking solutions for your New Year’s resolutions? According to the nutritionists at GIANT Food Stores, here are the top five food trends to help make better choices for you and your family. Consider incorporating one or more of these into your journey towards health and wellness this year.

• Fermented foods can have benefits beyond basic nutrition. Foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir (drinkable yogurt), kombucha (lightly effervescent tea), tempeh (pressed patty made from fermented soy and sometimes grains) and kimchi (Korean side dish of pickled vegetables) contain probiotics which are excellent for gut health. These good bacteria may improve digestion and possibly immunity.

• Diets lower in carbs and higher in protein and fats might be for you if you are looking to lose weight or manage a health condition. While not the right fit for everyone, many people report success with a diet that moves them towards vegetables, fruit, lean meat, fish and nuts. Foods like “zoodles” (zucchini noodles) and beets or black bean pasta, cauliflower “rice,” meat-based snacks like turkey or beef jerky without preservatives, organic, grass-fed, or no hormone added meat and poultry have become popular.

• Meal “reconstruction” is an increasingly popular concept for the adventurous palate. Texture and depth of flavor are at the forefront of this movement. Smooth and sweet is now being replaced by crunchy and spicy at breakfast with various proteins like chicken or chorizo topped chimichurri. Lunch and dinner are also changing as vegetables become the main entrée.

• Ethnic cuisines and flavors like sushi, Thai, Indian or Cuban are trending and becoming a more regular part of many shoppers’ diets and meals eaten at home. Being more adventurous with food provides the opportunity to experience new spices (and their benefits) as well as vegetarian meals with plant-based proteins like beans or tofu.

• Eating sustainably. U.S. food waste is a major concern and eating sustainably can help. Plan ahead, make a grocery list, eat seasonally, learn how to freeze and can food, and find ways to use food from “root to stem” like adding carrot tops to salad. Try making veggie stock from scraps like broccoli stalks or apple peels, or creating delicious infused water with cucumber peels and strawberry tops.

GIANT nutritionists are also available for individual consultations and classes on various topics such as heart health, weight loss, and individualized meal planning. Visit the GIANT website for a complete list of upcoming free classes or to schedule an appointment. Individual consultations are $20 and participants receive back a $20 GIANT gift card upon completion.