A Look at Some Trending Food Fads…

Some food trends may sound weird initially but they may prove to be healthy in the long run

The human species is blessed with curiosity and the desire to try out something new; for the simple reason that it gets bored very easily! Be it clothes, food, travel and life in general – a close look around will reveal people experimenting with a new look or a new recipe or a new place or even a changed behaviour!

A positive downside of this craving for the novel is creation and innovation. 

And a segment which enjoys maximum creativity is food … new dishes, new ingredients, new varieties, new combinations, genetically-engineered items the list of opportunities is endless! While some of these experiments are popular some being tad unconventional enjoy a restricted audience.

The internet is choc-a-bloc with trending food fads be it the multitude diets or certain earlier nondescript items like kale, broccoli et al which all of a sudden swept the limelight owing to some research or study which unearthed their nutrition value and health benefits.

A good thing about the current fads is that they’re a spin-off to people’s growing awareness about keeping fit and healthy.

Of the surfeit of food fads in the market, Foodism brings you a look at three offbeat rages – pink pineapples, avocado milk and vegan dog food.

Pink Pineapple

A lot of agricultural and sea produce is undergoing genetic engineering; and thankfully is vetted through extensive testing to ensure that it is safe for consumption. Then again approvals from Food and Drug Administration (FDA), The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are an absolute mandate before they step into the food market. Some examples in this Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) food segment are - salmon, apples, potatoes et al. The newest GMO food to join this cadre is the pink pineapple.

A look at this and you are bound to be floored by the colour! What sets this fruit apart from our humble pineapple are its pink flesh and its sweeter taste. 

Safe, delicious and nutritious this new pineapple apparently owes its pink hue to lycopene which has cancer-fighting properties.

Avocado Milk

A food fad ruling the market is avocado milk. This nut, seed and coconut-free; green collared milk is not only creamy and delicious but also allergy-friendly and quick and easy to prepare.

Avocados - the main ingredient of this milk - are replete with monounsaturated fat, amino acids, and vitamins and minerals that have anti-inflammatory effects, including B vitamins, and vitamins K, E and C.

A word of caution – People suffering from Fermentable, Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharaides and Polyols (FODMAP) sensitivities should refrain from avocados as they may cause bloating 

The milk per se is mild and doesn’t have a strong avocado flavour. Then again vis-à-vis the other milks available in the market avocado milk is comparatively thick, and gets slightly thicker when chilled but thankfully it doesn’t lose its trademark green colour!

Avocado milk can be quickly prepared in the blender with as few ingredients as – avocados; water; gelatine (protects the avocado from oxygen, sealing in the colour) and sweetener (as per taste). Depending on health preferences, the sweetener can be replaced with honey for those on Auto-immune Protocol (AIP) and Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAPS) diet; and with soaked dates for Whole30 needs.

You can use your avocado milk in any way you like - over sprouted cereals; AIP and GAPS porridge; in smoothies; simply by itself; as hot chocolate; in your tea; poured over a baked good with berries or other condiments; to make custard etc.

Vegan Dog Food

Compassion, environmentalism and general wellbeing are some factors which push pet parents to feed their dogs a vegan diet. 

Dogs being omnivores they can thrive on plant-based foods as well as meat. In fact, the only-meat diet may fail to cater to the nutrition requirement of your canine friend; so choosing a commercial vegan dog food tailored to the dietary needs of dogs would be a good idea.

A good question to ask here is – What is the difference between vegetarian dog food and vegan dog food? Well while vegetarian dog food may have animal products like milk or eggs; vegan dog food is mandatorily free from all animal by-products including honey and vitamin D3 extracted from sheep’s wool. So in simple words - all vegan dog food is vegetarian by default, but not all vegetarian dog food is vegan!

The best part is that vegan dog food meets multiple nutritional requirements of your pet including -

Protein

All ten essential amino acids (the building blocks of protein) required by a dog for cell functioning and the production of enzymes and antibodies can be provided with a balanced vegan diet.

Taurine and L-carnitine

A plant-based diet is replete with both Taurine and L-carnitine; as a matter of fact, naturally-occurring Taurine in animal meat is denatured during the heating process and needs to be synthetically added to prevent nutrient deficiency.

Moreover many dogs suffering from allergies, rashes, digestive problems and other sensitivities experience a reduction or elimination of symptoms after switching to a complete and balanced, hypoallergenic vegan diet.

A friendly tip - not all dogs love all foods, so if your canine companion doesn't seem to like the first vegan dog food he/she tries, it doesn't mean he’ll/she'll reject all of them... keep trying until you find the one your pet enjoys!

So we hope we’ve tickled your curiosity with these offbeat but healthy and environment-friendly diet fads? Do write in to us to share some interesting food trends that you are aware of …