Healthy Food Trends in 2023

While attending New Hope Network’s Natural Products Expo West in March in Anaheim, California, I discovered some new trends in natural and organic products. These trends for 2023, will continue to evolve in the years ahead. New Hope Network’s purpose is to cultivate a prosperous, high-integrity Consumer Product Goods (CPG) and retail ecosystem that create health, joy and justice for all people.

More than 3,000 exhibiting companies and over 67,000 attendees learned about different trends and tasted samples of thousands of new products that are on store shelves or will be in stores soon.

SUSTAINABILITY

In 2023, many of the trends focused on sustainability. Emerging entrepreneurs focus on earning consumer trust with an approach to wellness for the body and for the world. “It’s always tempting to zero in on the year’s hottest innovations or the latest go-to ingredients, but it’s important to recognize that these trends are reflections and manifestations of the much broader cultural forces that are truly driving today’s natural products industry,” said Jessica Rubino, Vice President, Content at Informa Markets’ New Hope Network. “These big-picture trends exist on a continuum, and Natural Products Expo West offers a front-row seat to observe their evolution.”

LastObject

LastObject is a B Corp certified company that aims to reduce waste and eliminate single-use plastic and other items by creating sustainable, reusable alternatives. The durable, made from eco-friendly materials are designed to have minimal environmental impact. LastObject values inclusivity and diversity, fair work opportunities and a healthy work/life balance for its employees. In addition, the company is committed to being transparent about its business practices and offers a monthly giveaway to its customers. LastObject’s mission is to create a positive impact on the planet and its people by offering products that are both sustainable and enjoyable to use.

UPCYCLING is a process of taking unwanted waste and transforming it into materials or products of better quality with environmental value. At Expo West 2023 I learned about a few companies that rescue unwanted potatoes.

UGLIES Kettle Chips

Uglies Kettle Chips is one of those innovative companies that take food waste and turn them into delicious snacks -one potato at a time. They use the potatoes farmers throw into a container, because they are too small or too large,  vary in color, are slightly blemished or have the wrong sugar content. The chips they make may be slightly imperfect in shape or size, but taste just as delicious as the big name potato and snack companies products.

Spudsy – Photo by Jill Weinlein

Spudys is another company that takes sweet potatoes deemed “ugly” and “imperfect” and turns them into delicious sweet potato fries. When Ashley Rogers learned that over 150 million potatoes of into the landfill each year due to their flawed size, shape or color, she created Spudsy in 2018. This Southern California based company makes ‘better-for-you and better-for-the-world’ snacks. Spudsy turned these unwanted spuds into sweet potato flour to create a healthy, sustainable snack. The company makes  Sweet Potato Puffs and Sweet Potato Fries that are vegan, gluten-free, kosher, and non-GMO. Spudsy have rescued 2 million flawed potatoes, turning them into delicious snacks.

PLANT BASED PROTEIN

The fastest growing Plant-based Protein Bar is ALOHA offering nothing artificial. Each bar is USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project verified. Their Kona Bar is made with coconut flakes, chocolate chips and Kona coffee combined with the subtle crunch of macadamia nuts. Packed with 14g of plant-based protein and only 5g of sugar. There is no gluten, dairy, soy, stevia, and sugar alcohol sweeteners in the bars.

ALOHA – Photo by Jill Weinlein

CLEAN INGREDIENTS

Plant-based, keto, paleo, grain-free and low to no sugar, while being nutrient dense equals clean ingredients. Consumers want to know what’s in the products they are buying. They want plant-based offerings that serve as healthy sources of nutrition for themselves and their families. Mindful of allergens, sugar and processed foods, they know that eating clean is what keeps them feeling their best.

Top Good To Be make the most delicious superfoods for a more sustainable future, especially their vegan pork dumplings. The key ingredients is Hardtii, a non-GMO algae powder with high levels of protein that are easy to digest. Hardtii is rich in Vitamin A, Iron, and Omegas and is a source of Lutein and Zeaxanthin. It’s a superfood.

Too Good To Be – Photo by Jill Weinlein

Rich Nuts founder Rich Pauwels created the easy to digest, crunchy, organic sprouted nuts as an ideal nutrient-dense snack. Rich Nuts also donates 10% of every sale directly to TCAF to help support their mission of raising awareness about testicular cancer and promoting early detection. “My search for the ideal snack began as a firefighter in California. Long shifts hauling heavy equipment uphill left me beat. I needed energy. Then I discovered the power of sprouted nuts. I sprouted cashews, dehydrated them for crunch, added herbs from my garden, and shared this creation with my crew. When I could barely keep up with demand in the firehouse, I knew the perfect snack was born. Rich Nuts Sprouted Nuts are easy to digest, crunchy, organic, and oh so delicious. Loaded with good fats and protein, they keep you going strong all day long,” said Pauwels.

Rich Nuts – Photo by Jill Weinlein

Second Nature’s social responsibility program is focused on three pillars: environmental stewardship, responsible sourcing, and workplace and community well-being. We are committed to managing our business in a way that minimizes our environmental impact, and ensures a sustainable future for both our customers and our employees. Second Nature makes plant based protein snacks for sustained energy.  Their Energy Boost Smart Mix has roasted almonds and cashews, dried banana, ginger and mango, plus raw walnuts. They are high in ALA Omega-3 and a good source of antioxidant Vitamin E. Second only to food that’s plucked from the ground, their snack medleys use natural ingredients such as dark chocolate, almonds, pecans, pistachios, blueberries, tart red cherries and cranberries. No preservatives, artificial ingredients, colors or additives. They are also Non-GMO Project Verified, gluten free, and kosher certified.

FUNCTIONAL BEVERAGES

Are popular as a liquid food with specific product ingredients to offer health benefit. Functional beverages include dairy beverages, sports and performance drinks, energy drinks, ready-to-drink teas, “smart” drinks, fortified fruit drinks, plant milks, and enhanced water.

Noka – photo by Jill Weinlein

Noka was created by Ryan and Adam, two mountain biking friends. They crafted a shelf stable organic and plant-based smoothie for their on-the-go lifestyle. Enhanced with plant proteins, healthy fats and antioxidant rich superfoods. It’s packed with plant protein and prebiotic fiber for energy.

Odyssey Elixir – Photo by Jill Weinlein

Odyssey Elixir is a beverage line that provides holistic support for the body and mind, supporting Energy, Endurance, Focus, Immunity, and Mood. After discovering the power of adaptogenic mushrooms, founder Scott Frohman mixed and matched unique blends. Some offered the powerful results such as euphoria, mental clarity and lasting energy. His energy drinks are infused with mushroom extracts, to create functional beverages that are potent, organic, sustainable, fun, and delicious. There is zero added sugar in the carefully combined flavor-forward ingredients. Passion fruit, orange, guava and blackberry are added to potent adaptogenic mushrooms like Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps to create a unique taste and effect on your well being.

Drink Aloe Vio

Aloe Vio not only hydrates with water and electrolytes, but helps with digestive issues, such as constipation and irritable bowel syndrome. Made with real aloe vera helps soothe the digestive tract and promote regularity. It’s good for skin health since it contains vitamins A, C, and E, as well as zinc and magnesium. Drinking Aloe Vio contains compounds that have been shown to have immune-boosting properties, such as polysaccharides and antioxidants. This also has anti-inflammatory properties to help reduce inflammation in the body and potentially alleviate conditions such as arthritis and other inflammatory disorders. BevPax, the makers of Aloe Vio offers new summer flavors include watermelon, pineapple and passion fruit. It’s never made from powder or concentrate and contains no pulp. BevPax partners with PlasticBank which empowers underserved coastal communities to collect plastic before it reaches the ocean in exchange for life-improving benefits. Available at multiple retail locations including Dollar General, Dollar Tree and at BevPax.com.

PKN Pecanmilk

NUT MILKS

PKN is the original pecanmilk made from Texas grown pecans. There is no added sugar and it’s as creamy as cow’s milk. PKN’s lactose free milk alternative tastes like pecans, with the buttery, nutty taste. This shelf-stable nut milk is packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and healthy fats. Pecans have a higher ratio of antioxidants than any other commercial tree nut. Pecans contain vitamins A, B, and E; plus Omega-3s, magnesium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and zinc.

GUT HEALTH influences all health systems in the body. Food and supplements that support a healthy microbiome for better brain, heart and mental health were popular this year.

Supergut – Photo by Jill Weinlein