4 Nutrition Trends for 2024 (predicted by a functional nutritionist)
MICROS OVER MACROS
As we continue to move away from the low-carb/keto craze of the past few years, I think that people will stop focusing so much on MACROnutrients (ie: carbs, fats, & proteins) and focus rather on MICROnutrient (ie: vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients) content of their food.
On a broader scale, this is an additional step away from the calorie-counting, number-obsessed dietary landscape into a more refreshed, modern, nuanced way of approaching nutrition.
I predict that in 2024, more people will starting thinking more about nutrient density.
LESS: reading carb:fat content on the nutrition label of your smoothie powder
MORE: making a smoothie with whole foods that do not have nutrition labels
2. REGENERATIVE IS THE NEW ORGANIC
Now that buying organic food has become more mainstream, there has been increased awareness of REGENERATIVE agricultural practices.
Regenerative (aka biodynamic) farming practices focus on raising food in a way that honors the natural environment. Think rotational grazing, not tilling fields, planting cover crops, composting, encouraging beneficial insects, etc. It may or may not be organic.
I predict that 2024 will see an even greater demand for products that are raised and certified as “regenerative”.
LESS: buying organic spinach that was still factory farmed thousands of miles away
MORE: buying local spinach that was raised regeneratively (because you can ask the farmer directly)
3. COOKING LIKE GREAT-GRANDMA
She probably baked her own bread, canned her own green beans, and cooked what was in season.
Whereas a few generations ago it was economically advantageous to make everything homemade, it is not anymore. Now we buy convenience foods to save us time so we can work full-time to afford our living expenses. Somewhat backwards, if you ask me. In our modern world, there is a certain luxury to the “homemade” way of life.
Yet I think we are yearning to return to some of that simplicity. In my circles, I know so many people who would rather spend the day canning salsa than going to the office. It’s not that a homemade meal requires less work than a freezer meal, but it is a more natural, satisfying, and grounding process.
I predict that in 2024, more young people will embrace old-fashioned methods of growing and preparing food.
LESS: $3 loaf of wonderbread
MORE: 3 hour loaf of sourdough bread
4. BUYING IN BULK
How can I afford to buy MORE than usual when my grocery bill is almost double what it was a few years ago?!
The secret is that buying in bulk is 9 times out of 10 more economical. Yes, it requires more expense up-front, more long-term planning, and less instant-gratification.
However, it also means stretching those grocery dollars a little bit father (which we almost can’t afford not to do in this economy).
I predict that more people will start buying food in bulk to save money in 2024.
LESS: instant oatmeal packets
MORE: 50lb bags of oatmeal
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