The Hottest Food Trends of 2019

Here are Fit Bottomed Eats, we’re lucky in that we get the scoop on new healthy foods before they hit the shelves. And, lately, we’ve seen some big trends that are starting to pop.

Here are the five hottest food trends we’ve got our eyeballs on — and think you should, too!

The Hottest Food Trends of 2019

1. All the functional drinks. You’ve probably already noticed that the drink aisle at your natural grocery store is like a million miles long, but prepare for it to get even longer in the New Year. From more kombuchas and fermented drinks than you can shake a scoby at, you’ll also notice more green drinks, superfood drinks, sparkling waters, cold coffee brews, protein drinks — and various combos of all of that put together (such as fizzique, which is a sparkling protein water with 20 grams of protein, zero carbs, and no sugar).

2. Even more plant-based options. It used to be that “plant-based” proteins and options were marketed for mostly vegetarians and vegans, but this year, you’ll start to see them offered to all people who are looking to simply get more plants in their everyday eats as that food trend rises (hooray!). Another thing to note: those plant-based options won’t be just soy or corn either; look for even more nutrient-dense options such as spirulina, seaweed, vegetables and more. Riced vegetables continue to gain popularity, even going shelf-stable with products like Full Green Vegi Rice and Cauli Rice (which are great as sides on their own but also make any recipe that includes rice so easy).

Speaking of plant-based convenience foods, we’ve also gotta give a shout out to Chef Soraya’s Eat a Bowl line, which makes it easy to enjoy a nutritious, plant-based meal just by adding hot water and waiting a few minutes. And we highly recommend keeping your eyes open in the frozen food section, because Green Giant Fresh has launched their new Vegetable Meal Bowls, which include a Buddha Bowl, Rancheros Bowl, “Fried Rice” Bowl, and more. They’re all created with a fresh vegetable base and have some really tasty sauces, which means they’re great on their own but also make for an easy base if you want to add any other protein or veggies.

And! For the yogurt lovers who trying to make the move away from dairy, we’re seeing so many options for nut- or fruit-based yogurts, like Forager Project Cashewgurt and Lavva Plant-Based Yogurt. These options generally don’t pack quite the same consistency and protein punch as, say, a traditional Greek yogurt, but you can find awesome pre- and probiotic benefits — and in the case of Lavva, there are no added sugars, gums, or stabilizers.

3. Mushroom power continues. Last year we saw the rise of the mushroom in teas, coffees, and various other drinks and powders, and this year, it’ll continue to trend but in new ways. Because of mushrooms’ rich and almost meat-like texture, you’ll start to see it offered in new to-go options like Pan’s Mushroom Jerky. And, like we noted in trend no. 2, these plant-based options will be for vegans and non-vegans alike!

4. Keto-friendly products. You know how we feel about diets, but this is one that (much to our chagrin) isn’t going away in 2019. In fact, we’re seeing more and more companies create new products and label them clearly as keto-friendly. But, it’s important to remember that there’s more to most foods than a term slapped on their label, which is why we’re pretty into Dang’s newest offering, the Dang Bar. They’re touting it as “the plant based keto bar,” but, hey, we’ve been into Dang’s Coconut Chips for years, and the bars (which are vegan, gluten-free, boast no added sugar and are available in Almond Vanilla, Chocolate Sea Salt and Lemon Matcha) are also super tasty. And convenient.

5. Shelf-stable probiotics. Probiotics are pretty rad for a number of reasons (learn more in this podcast ep!), and shelf-stable probiotics are even more rad because of their convenience — and they’re being used in everything. From cleaning products to protein powders to sunscreen to coffee creamers, gut health is one trend that seems like it’s here to stay.

How many of these food trends will you try this year? –Jenn & Kristen