2011: The Diet-Less Year

We have all heard of technology trends and are no strangers to fashion trends, but can one be “trendy” when it comes to their food? Just recently, Eat Better America came out with the Top Nutrition Trends of 2011. The common theme of the ten trends is to practice the fundamentals about food and nutrition. In the article What’s New in Diet and Nutrition Trends, Nutritionist Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD, a national spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, says, “The biggest trend I see is a back-to-the-basics approach — getting away from highly processed foods and back to whole foods.”

So what are these Nutrition Trends for 2011?

1. Whole Grains—offer more than just fiber providing vitamins, minerals and other benefits.
2. Vitamin D—is found in low fat or fat free milk and yogurt. Vitamin D improves bone health and calcium absorption into the body.
3. Omega-3s/Fish Oil—improves heart health and brain function.
4. Probiotics—in adequate amounts, benefits digestive health and the immune system.
5. Vitamin E—is a fat-soluble vitamin found in fortified breakfast cereals, seeds and nuts. It acts as an antioxidant that protects cells from free radicals.
6. Coffee—new research shows that increased coffee consumption decreases the risk for Type-2 Diabetes and some cancers.
7. Gluten Free—is the new Fat Free. This means eliminating the plant protein “gluten” from your diet; for many, it helps with personal sensitivities.
8. Chocolate/Cocoa—in moderation, can reduce blood pressure and lower cholesterol.
9. Sweet Potatoes—are full of nutrients including beta-carotene that helps with vision.
10. Resveratrol –comes from the skin of red grapes in red wines and helps reduce blood sugar.

Personally, I prefer the “eat anything in moderation” diet, but Eat Better America does have some simple, yet important information (and yummy recipes) in this article that I believe to be crucial for any diet. The main concept is to take a few minutes and understand the foods you put in your body and the appropriate portion sizes of each, rather than worrying about “eating this, not that” like most diets require. If you cannot remember specifics, just use the 80/20 Rule; 80% of the time you should eat healthier, nutritious foods.  Check out this article below.

www.eatbetteramerica.com/downloads/foodtrends.aspx

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