Top Nutrition Trends of 2013

Sure, well all still be talking about gluten-free in the coming year, but there are plenty of exciting new nutrition trends, too. Check out our list and get a jumpstart on healthy eating the 2013 way.

RELATED: Top Nutrition Trends of 2012

Cauliflower and mini greens: Move over, kale. One of the hot nutrition trends in the veggie category this year is expected to be cauliflower. Like the curly green, its versatile and packed with nutrients: One cup has nearly 90 percent of your recommended daily value of vitamin C. Cauliflower has been a staple lately on the menus of NYCs fabulous restaurants, says registered dietitian Laura Cipullo, owner of Laura Cipullo Whole Nutrition Services in New York, whos sampled broccolis cousin mashed, curried and caramelized. I personally love to coat an entire head of cauliflower with Dijon mustard, nonfat plain Greek yogurt or canola oil mayonnaise and bake it for an hour.

If youre specifically looking for a trendy new green, check out tiny leafies like baby romaine, mini bok choy and microgreens, which are increasing in popularity, says registered dietitan Julieanna Hever, host of Veria Living TVs "What Would Julieanna Do?"Enjoy them as you would other mixed lettuce varieties or in smoothies, stir-fries, and grain or pasta dishes.

Veggie-centered meals: Speaking of vegetables, dont be surprised to see them moving to center stage more often, as an increasing number of Americans adopt at least a flexatarian approach to their diet, enjoying more meatless meals.

2013 is predicted to be the year of the plant-based diet, and stores are reflecting the interest, Hever says. Im seeing more faux meat and dairy products, as well as bigger raw food sections in the market.

Restaurant industry forecaster Techtomic also predicts that chefs will step up to the plate to embrace this nutrition trend with more meatless mealsparticularly seasonal or exotic vegetable plates. But consumers should be careful not to assume those are the healthiest meals on the menu.

I think it will be an eye-opening experience when restaurants all start posting calorie countssome vegan meals are no healthier than a burger! says Biggest Loser nutritionist Rachel Beller, a registered dietitian and author of Eat to Lose, Eat to Win: Your Grab-N-Go Action Plan for a Slimmer, Healthier You. You still need to watch the calories and fat.

Bulgur: Burned out on quinoa? Try bulgur, the Middle Eastern grain predicted to be one of the top nutrition trends in 2013. I think were going to see a lot of bulgur for breakfast, Beller says. A cup cooked is about 150 calories, just like oatmeal, but fiber-wise, it has double the amount. Try it with almond milk and a sprinkle of cinnamon, she suggests. But beware: unlike quinoa, this grain does contain wheat, which rules it out for gluten-free diets.

RELATED: New Nutrition Myths, Busted!

Read more:
Top Nutrition Trends of 2013

Related Posts

Comments are closed.