After a tumultuous 2020, it’s not surprising the trending ingredients for the year ahead are aimed at looking after your health and the planet’s. Whether you’re looking to eat more plant-based meals, support your immunity or choose more sustainable food options, here are four new food trends to try in 2021.
1. Algae
“Algae” refers to a family of plants including spirulina and seaweed. It’s packed with nutrients and chlorophyll and is becoming popular as a sustainable ingredient. The health benefits vary, but generally speaking algae is good for you—one tablespoon of spirulina provides four grams of protein plus calcium, iron and magnesium.
2. Banana blossom
Banana blossoms are the flowers that grow at the end of a banana cluster. Similar to jackfruit, they can be used as a vegetarian “meat alternative” in salads, curries or
stir-fries. It’s high in dietary fibre and contains a range of phytochemicals and vitamins.
3. Fonio
Fonio is a type of millet with an earthy, nutty flavour which you can use as you would rice, quinoa or couscous. It is growing in popularity as a crop as it requires very little water. Fonio is gluten free and contains four times the protein, three times the fibre and nearly twice the iron of brown rice.
4. Oat milk
Oat milk is creamy with a deliciously mild flavour, meaning it can be used in almost any recipe or enjoyed straight from the glass. It’s also been touted as one of the more sustainable plant-based milks and is a great option for those with dietary restrictions or intolerances.
