Molly Knudsen, M.S., RDN is a Registered Dietician Nutritionist with a bachelor’s degree in nutrition from Texas Christian University and a master’s in nutrition interventions, communication, and behavior change from Tufts University. She lives in Newport Beach, California, and enjoys connecting people to the food they eat and how it influences health and wellbeing.
Image by Javier Pardina / Stocksy
June 30, 2024
Here at mindbodygreen, we’re always curious about what everyone’s munching on and the latest products lining grocery store shelves. As editors, we have a pulse on how folks are pleasing their palates, and over the last few months, we’ve noticed a few emerging trends.
While it’s too early to say what’s here to stay and what’s here for the moment, these are the top three things we’ve noticed recently from food connoisseurs.
1.
Dressed up instant noodles
Instant noodles have received a lot of slack over the years for being overly processed, high in sodium, and loaded with msg. But these noodles are beloved by many. They’re affordable, nostalgic, easy to make, and pretty easy to transform into a complete meal by adding protein and veggies.
Now, instant noodles may be a bit healthier out of the bag.
kroma. offers gluten-free, bone broth ramen with mung-bean noodles, collagen, coconut milk, turmeric, and reishi mushrooms. Altogether, that’s 15 grams of protein each serving and only 420 milligrams of sodium (18% of the daily value).
immi’s instant ramen also provides an impressive 15 grams of protein per serving by adding pea and sunflower protein into the mix.
Momofuku is offering a slew of fan favorites at the moment, including Tingly Chili Noodles. People love how fresh and flavorful these noodles taste. While this one is a bit higher in sodium, the soy sauce packet is separate from the rest of the seasoning, allowing you
All of these noodles still retain the ease of preparation and the ability to pair beautifully with all your favorite toppings (whether that’s a soft obliged egg, shrimp, bok choy, scallions, or broccoli). However, they are pricier than their more classic instant noodles.
2.
High-protein snacking
For the last two years, we’ve predicted that high-protein diets (well, eating the protein you need to thrive, not just survive) is an eating pattern that’s here to stay.
There have been big pushes to up the protein intake of meals to upwards of 30, 40, even 50 grams per meal. But now, the focus seems to be on snacking.
Creativity in snacking recipes is at an all-time high, while keeping the prepwork low. There are plenty of recipes floating around for high-protein buffalo chicken dip for crackers or veggies, tuna melts, French onion dip (but with Greek Yogurt), or high-protein desserts via the Ninja® CREAMi®.
Two key ingredients for many of those snacks include dairy. Cottage cheese is still going strong, but the high-protein cheese category is expanding. Lifeway’s Farmers Cheese is a low-calorie, easily spreadable soft cheese that provides 13 grams of protein in a ½ cup.
Chobani has a tasty, ready-to-drink yogurt shake with 20 grams of protein, 3 grams of fiber, and 0 grams of added sugar in just 10 ounces.
These high-protein snacks don’t compromise on flavor or volume and can be a great way to help you reach your daily protein needs in a satisfying way.
3.
Mushrooms for munching
Mushrooms are the ultimate functional food, as they provide essential vitamins and minerals and compounds like beta-glucans, flavonoids, and triterpenoids. They’ve (shockingly) solidified themselves in the coffee aisle, but their presence in pantries is expanding.
Raaka chocolate bars are made with Ugandan cacao, herbs, and 530 milligrams of mushrooms, and Moku plant-based jerky has six flavors of chewy mushroom jerky.
And Popadelics is trying to turn mushrooms into the new potato chip. These crispy snacks are vacuumed fried, which may help retain the nutrients and flavor of the mushrooms.
The takeaway
When making food choices, people are prioritizing foods that taste good and have nutritional value. We’re not willing to skimp on flavor, satiety, and variety in the name of health, and brands seem to be delivering on products that make that a possibility.
