The Top 10 Healthy-Food Trends to Expect

Registered dietitian nutritionists offer their projections for fad foods, from keto-friendly foods to inventive nut milks and more.

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Need a little push to follow through with those New Year’s resolutions? Here you go: The biggest healthy-food trends of 2019 will help you eat more nutritious meals and snacks at home and on the go.

To offer you a preview of the most important healthy trends of the new year, we chatted with nationally respected registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) throughout the United States to hear what health products and trends most stood out at this year’s Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo, as well as what these RDNs see as hot at the grocery store and in their clients’ shopping carts.

Plant-based eating is a trend that won't go away anytime soon. A flexitarian eating style, allowing anyone and everyone to add more produce and other plant nutrients to their day, appears to be a main driver. “Options that allow people to go more plant-based without becoming totally vegan or vegetarian is a trend that is gaining more momentum,” says Patricia Bannan, RDN, who is in private practice in Los Angeles. “For example, the mushroom-and-meat blended burger has really taken off, and continues to grow across the board at the restaurant, retail, and consumer levels. This burger has an improved nutritional profile and even more of the brothy, rich, meaty umami flavor compared with a traditional burger.”

Food choices affect the health of the planet, too. “Now more than ever, people are interested in where their food has come from and what it took to actually get that food to the table,” says Emily Kyle, RDN, who is in private practice in Rochester, New York, and is the author of The 30-Minute Thyroid Cookbook.

Despite the trends we’ll outline here, know that it’s always best to reach for whole, unprocessed foods to get the most nutritional bang for your buck. We’ll offer suggestions for those kinds of foods, too.

Read on to find out what’s on the must-try list for 2019 healthy foods!

1. Eats With Prebiotic and Probiotic Perks for Better Gut Health

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When it comes to getting your fill of gut-healthy probiotics, you now have many options beyond yogurt. Lifeway Kefir spreadable Farmer Cheese (pictured here), is strained from kefir and contains a dozen strains of probiotics. And then there’s Farmhouse Culture’s Kraut Krisps, made from, well, sauerkraut, and oatmeal with heat-resistant probiotics from ThinkThin. Standard probiotic foods include kombucha, kvass, kimchi, and plain kefir itself.

Don’t forget about prebiotics, which feed that friendly gut bacteria. Kellogg’s Happy Inside cereal provides both pre- and probiotics, plus fiber to additionally boost gut health.

“We are learning more and more about the benefits of a healthy microbiome, so there’s a lot of interest about ways to feed the trillions of bacteria in our guts,” says Samantha Cassetty, RD, in private practice in New York City. The microbiome is the community of bacteria in the gut that may play a role in the development of health conditions such as diabetes, eczema, cancer, and depression, according to the Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah.

2. Foods With Sustainable Benefits So You Can Benefit the Planet, Not Just Your Body

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“Do good” is a mantra many companies, small and big alike, are standing by these days. General Mills, for instance, set a goal to sustainably source 10 of its top ingredients by the year 2020. It’s currently meeting 76 percent of that goal, with all of its palm oil, 99 percent of its fiber packaging, 81 percent of its U.S. sugar beets, and 67 percent of its U.S. dry milled corn sustainably sourced. This notably impacts its Cheerios and Nature Valley lines.

Also, the bottled beverage company Rebbl ethically employs workers and donates 2.5 percent of its net sales to reduce the risk of exploitation and human trafficking.

And don’t forget about sustainably sourced eggs. “Vital Farms’ hens are allowed to forage freely, and this keeps the pastures healthy and means harmful chemicals aren’t necessary,” says Cassetty. “It’s a win for the animals, a win for the environment, and a win for egg lovers because pasture-raised eggs have more vitamins and minerals than eggs produced in other ways.”

3. Convenience Superfoods for When You’re On the Go

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It’s now easier than ever to eat healthy when you’re in a hurry. Don’t have time to prepare sweet potato toast from scratch? Caulipower just launched frozen slices that you just pop into the toaster oven.

You also have no excuses to skip the whole grains, since you can buy single-serving bowls of microwave quinoa from Minute Rice. And if you're looking for a little extra nutritional oomph from your nut butter, Probar offers single-serve packets of almond butter with berry powder (think acai and more) for extra antioxidants.

“We are seeing a trend toward more plant-based eating and people wanting whole-food ingredients, but consumers are still busy and need convenience,” says Bannan. “I’m happy to see new products that make it easier for consumers to embrace healthy eating on the go.”

4. New Plant-Based Milks From Surprising Sources

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Looking for a plant-based milk? Your options now include much more than almond and soy milk. From banana to walnut to hemp, hazelnut, oat, and flaxseed milk, products now exist to suit almost any dietary preference and need. 

"People always love a trend, and plant-based is the hottest trend right now, fueling the desire for multiple plant-based milk sources,” says Kyle. “Certain plant-based milks, like banana milk or oat milk, are appealing to consumers because they are generally free of many of the top eight allergens that are typically present in more traditional milks like almond or soy.”

Look for oat milk from Oatly, walnut and hazelnut milks from Elmhurst 1925, pecan milk from MALK, flax milk from Manitoba Milling Co., and banana milk from Mooala. Wondering why your alternative milk’s label says “milked nuts” or “malk”? It’s because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is in the process of likely banning all nondairy milks from using “milk” in their names.

Note that while banana milk is delicious and provides nutrients like blood-pressure-helping potassium, you’ll typically get more satiating protein from a nut- or seed-based milk.

For an easily accessible source of protein, opt for calcium-rich dairy milk. Check the nutrition facts label to choose a milk that meets your nutritional needs.

5. Innovative Lactose-Free Dairy Products That Go Beyond Milk

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Food for people with specific dietary needs is plentiful right now. That includes lactose-free dairy — and we’re not talking just milk. You can now find lactose-free cottage cheese, kefir, and yogurt from Green Valley Creamery. And Cabot Cheese boasts a “lactose-free” label on several of its cheeses, including aged Cheddar and Colby Jack.

“Certain health conditions may prevent [some people] from enjoying traditional forms of food, like certain bovine dairy-based milk, and they are increasingly interested in the alternative options coming to the marketplace,” says Kyle.

6. More Keto-, Paleo- and Low-FODMAP-Friendly Foods

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Many people are either interested in specific eating styles or increasingly aware of their own dietary sensitivities. That’s why you’ll find many convenience foods tailored to low-FODMAP eating patterns — meaning these foods avoid ingredients that tend to trigger IBS symptoms, such as onion, garlic, and even gluten. Fody offers low-FODMAP salsa, ketchup, salad dressings, and more, while Rachel Pauls sells low-FODMAP bars, jerky, and spices. Even Prego offers a Sensitive Recipe pasta sauce sans onions and garlic.

“I think we’re finally moving away from [only] calories and numbers,” says Cynthia Sass, RD, MPH, who is in private practice in New York City and Los Angeles. “My clients want to know more about the functional benefits of foods, including how they impact digestive health, immunity, sleep, energy, and mental focus. More consumers are now connecting food choices with everyday quality-of-life outcomes, and labels that offer more information can help make that easier.”

You’ll also find food labels promoting specific dietary patterns, such as paleo and keto. Think grain-free paleo snack puffs from Lesser Evil and multiple brands offering keto-specific products. Of course, be sure to talk to your doctor before trying any restrictive diet plan, including keto and paleo!

7. Protein-Powered Foods to Help You Crush Your Next Gym Sesh

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Protein is all the rage, and here’s why: It helps keep you fuller for longer, helping to fight the urge to snack all day long and also providing fuel for your workouts. You’ll find YQ by Yoplait plain yogurt made with ultra-filtered milk, offering 17 grams of protein per 5.3-ounce single-serve container; collagen-based coffee creamer from Vital Proteins; and ready-to-drink soups with collagen protein from Zupa Noma.

8. More Classic, Go-to Snacks in Healthier Whole-Grain Varieties

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You won’t find only the typical whole grains in your bread, pasta, and snack food nowadays. Think of lentils, rice, and pea protein blended in a gluten-free pasta from Modern Table, sorghum-based gluten-free pretzels from Quinn Snacks, and soup featuring whole-grain pasta from Campbell’s.

“People recognize that whole grains are much more nutritious than refined grains, so they’re prioritizing these when shopping for packaged products,” says Cassetty. “One brand I love is Quinn Snacks. Since they’re made with whole grains, I feel good about giving them to my son and recommending them to clients looking for a healthier snack, in moderation. I also like their microwave popcorn because unlike other brands, the toppings are added after it’s popped.”

9. Packaged Foods That Make It Easier to Eat More Plants

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The plant-based packaged-food category is more expansive than ever. “The plant-based movement ties into a number of trending consumer priorities, including health protection, environmental stewardship, and ethically driven eating,” Sass says. “My clients constantly tell me they feel better physically and feel good about how they are spending their food dollars when they eat more plant-based foods.” When it comes to new finds, think pumpkin seed butter from 88 Acres, algae oil from Thrive, chia seed oil from Lekithos, and even dark-chocolate-covered chickpeas from Biena.

10. Almost-Ready-to-Eat Healthy Breakfasts

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Frozen and other quick-cooking lunches and dinners have been on offer for years. But convenient, almost ready-to-eat balanced breakfasts haven’t been as plentiful in the supermarket aisles — that is, until now. Many of these are in bowl and mug form. You can pick up a Dr. Praeger’s bowl with egg whites and or an Amy’s Kitchen bowl with tofu, quinoa, meatless sausage, and vegetables. And Kodiak Cakes now sells whole-grain flapjack microwave mug cups.

“Health-conscious consumers don’t want to eat bagels, pastries, or sugary cereals for breakfast,” says Sass. “I think we’ll see more products that marry nutrition and convenience, and fit a category I refer to as ‘homemade for you,’ meaning simple ingredients you could have combined yourself but didn’t have to because someone prepared them for you.”

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