Over the past 11 months, we’ve been keeping our ear to the ground to spot what’s new, exciting, changing, and dying in the health food space. After all, if you’re reading this post, you probably care about the food you’re putting into your body and realize that we’ve done a great job in 2018 keeping you afloat with the best meal prep recipes for your body! =)  Joking aside, with the abundance of new research, another year in the books for food trials, and BIG money being spent on food innovation, it’s important to know what new foods and equipment are available to you.

We have been tracking search trends, influencer conversations, and venture funding to compile our list for 2019, and with recent mega companies like Whole foods, Kroger, and Tyson Foods putting out their trends report, it has been reassuring to see some of our top food trends for 2019 on their lists as well.

At a macro level, food and appliance companies have gotten increasingly better at building utility and functionality into their products while eliminating the unnecessary bells, whistles, and harmful ingredients. This trend will continue as consumers (like you and me) share their frustration with processed sugars, unethical labor practices, and unnecessary packaging…

With less than a month and a half away from 2019, hopeful that 2019 will bring a better/cleaner food system, we present to you…

The Top 10 Health Food Trends of 2019

• Brain Foods - Foods that research has shown to improve brain function, health, and memory

• Dairy-less alternative products - Your body needs protein. What it doesn’t need is a bunch of sugar and junk that weighs you down 

• Zero Waste

  - making more and BIGGER strides towards reducing food waste. Read more about our partnership with Ugly Produce is Beautiful HERE

• Convenient Health Foods 

  - When 5pm hits and you totally forgot to plan for dinner (again =/) you're going to want to look out for these healthy options. The healthy convenience category will show strong growth while still maintaining integrity. These foods are typically pre-cooked, contain minimal ingredients, and act as a main ingredient in a 3-4 ingredient meal. 

• Health Food Vending Machines 

  - I had the opportunity to eat from one of these vending machines at O'hare International Airport while in Chicago last year. It was surprisingly fresh and delicious. While the business model still has some kinks to work out, more and more people are looking for this kind of solution. Better yet... the vending machine will come to you! Can't wait to see the drones they create! =) 

• Protein Infused Food and Drink 

  - Protein bars are nothing new to the health food category, but have you ever tried protein infused water, coffee, or chips?! Didn't think so... With more and more research coming out about the effects of protein on weight loss, you better believe this will be popping up more and more.

• Smart Cooking Devices 

  - Cooking with light. Recipes built into the oven. Watching your food cook from your iPhone... seems like a scene from a futuristic movie! But, here we are... smart cooking appliances with databases, learning technology, wi-fi connected, and mobile functionality. WHAT?! Get ready for more devices that help make you a better meal prepper. Learn more about the Brava Oven  

• Oils are all the Rage: CBD and Essential Oils 

  - Why will these holistic oils be a big deal?! Well, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first medication that is a derivative of cannabis (CBD) and is specific for seizures or epilepsy. WOW! Big news. And, while there isn't the same amount of research data available for essential oils, the search and purchas intent for essential oil has incresed 50% year over year for the past 4 years in a row.

• Global Flavors with Benefits - 

  Studies show that Asian populations have a lower incidence of chronic diseases, such as cancer, than their Western counterparts. As we begin to have more and more access to foods from around the world, we are looking forward to reaping the health, and flavor, benefits of these tropical fruits.

• Plant Based Frozen Foods 

  - Traditionally, the frozen food aisle has been dedicated to the mega-corporations with mass-produced, meat-centric, ingredients and meals. With a recent study showing that 50% of Americans are trying to eat more plant-based meals, we are going to start to see a shift in the space allocation to more plant-based frozen foods.