Blueberry is part of the list of the most in-demand foods of 2023 because of its value as a superfood and the beneficial properties it holds. It is projected to be one of the most in-demand foods for consumers during the year, along with fruits, vegetables and grains for the base of diets, especially vegetables. However, as reported by the "What's Trending in Nutrition" report, agree to superfoods, but watch out for misinformation!
What's trending in food? Value, value, value. Not surprisingly, food buyers prioritize value and convenience.
According to a survey of dietitians and nutritionists, food buyers prioritize value and affordability over foods that offer immunity, a reversal of the focus on immunity that emerged during the pandemic.
The annual "What's Trending in Nutrition" survey, conducted by Pollock Communications and Today's Dietitian, found that 70.4 percent of RDNs predict that in 2023 the most important foods for consumers will be those that are cheap and valuable, followed by those that are easily accessible and convenient (59.1 percent) and, in third place, those that promote immunity (57.6 percent).
While the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the trend toward "food as medicine," the rising cost of living is pushing consumers to shift focus to value, according to the report.
However, consumers are still mindful of their health and continue to be interested in "superfoods," especially those that promote gut health. In fact, fermented foods-such as yogurt, kimchi, kombucha tea, and pickled vegetables-are predicted to be the top superfood that consumers will seek out in 2023. This is the sixth consecutive year that fermented foods have topped the list.
Other superfoods that RDNs predicted will be in demand in 2023 include:
- seeds, such as chia and hemp seeds
- blueberries
- avocado
- dried fruits, including pistachios, almonds and walnuts
- Leafy vegetables, such as spinach
- Aquatic vegetables, such as algae, seaweed and sea moss
- green tea
- ancient grains
- non-dairy milk
Aquatic vegetables and nondairy milks made it into the top 10 this year, while kale and exotic fruits dropped out. All the superfoods on the list are suitable for a plant-based diet, the report points out.
Indeed, plant-based diets continued to gain popularity, according to the survey, with medical specialists ranking it as the third most popular dietary trend after intermittent fasting and keto diets. However, despite the popularity of plant-based diets, only 1 percent of medical specialists surveyed said they would recommend alternatives to highly processed meat.
The medical specialists also predicted that consumers will continue to snack as they have for the past two years. The top three reasons consumers continue to snack are boredom (71.8%), convenience (71.8%) and working from home (67%).
"Consumers are more aware than ever of the benefits foods can provide for gut health and immune function," said Louise Pollock, president of Pollock Communications. "As consumers face higher costs at the supermarket, they will seek out affordable foods and snacks that still offer valuable health benefits. Our survey results reflect how consumer behaviors are shifting with the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions, the permanence of remote work, and rising inflation-from prioritizing affordable foods to continued interest in snacks."
The report also highlighted the amount of false and misleading nutrition information found online and particularly on social media. RDNs cited Facebook, Instagram and TikTok as the main sources of misinformation and also stated that social media influencers are the main platform for distributing misinformation.
"Social media influencers are talking about wellness and nutrition at unprecedented rates, but people are struggling to distinguish between credible information and myths. This only reinforces the need to amplify credible sources of nutrition information, such as registered dietitians," said Mara Honicker, editor of Today's Dietitian.
Source: Supermarket News
