What to look out for this year in the world of diet and nutrition
While no-one could have predicted the year we had in 2020, the arrival of the new year and hope for a more positive 2021 also brings new trends in food. Many people turned to food and cooking during the pandemic and lockdowns last year, so now more than ever, more people are interested in what’s trending.
1. Plant-based or flexitarian eating
Plant-based diets continue to dominate food trends. This is spurred by all the known health benefits of a plant-based diet and the research indicating that lowering your meat intake can protect against heart disease. Plus, many people want to be more environmentally conscious and reduce their carbon footprint. They are continuing to look to plant-based proteins like beans, legumes, wholegrains and plant-based meat substitutes.
‘Flexitarian’ eating is also becoming more popular. This is following a mostly plant-based diet but including small amounts of meat and other animal-based products occasionally. It provides more flexibility for those who want to benefit from plant-based eating but don’t want to completely cut out all animal products.
At Jenny Craig, we have vegetarian menu options. Take a look here.
2. Home cooking and comfort foods
With the effects of the pandemic and lockdowns, many people are returning to old-style comfort foods and home cooking. The instability of last year has made us crave what we know, and look for a sense of normalcy.
At Jenny Craig we love our old favourites like Fish and Wedges and Chicken Parma, and we’ve also got two new comfort foods to satisfy your tastebuds: Meatballs & Vegetables and Beef & Vegetable Casserole.
3. Environmentally friendly and waste-free eating
We’re becoming more and more environmentally conscious, not only about packaging but also about food waste. While packaging has been in the spotlight for a number of years, we are also now looking more closely at food waste and its impact on the environment, as well as the economic impact of waste. Households are becoming more conscious about taking stock of food, using all possible parts of the food, and cooking with leftovers.
4. Immunity boosting food
The pandemic has caused many people to reassess their own health, and has also sparked interest in immunity boosting food. While no single food alone is capable of boosting your immunity or preventing you from catching a virus, a balanced diet rich in nutrients can allow your immune system to function at its best.
Including plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and food containing fibre in your diet gives our body lots of immunity boosting nutrients, such vitamins C, A & E, and antioxidants. These foods also help with gut health, which is important for the functioning of the immune system.
5. Intermittent fasting
Intermittent fasting has slowly been on the rise over the last few years. This year, it is gaining further traction, especially a form called time-restricted feeding, in which you eat during a certain time window.
The science on intermittent fasting is rapidly evolving, with some of the potential benefits being weight loss and improved blood sugar control.
At Jenny Craig, the Max Up program utilises the science of intermittent fasting and circadian rhythm, to enhance members’ results over the first four weeks. We incorporate a period of nourishment for 10 hours, followed by a period of rejuvenation for 14 hours. Read more about Max Up here.
