My 5 Favorite Food Trends for 2017 don’t include the best hipster donuts or avocado toast.  They do include foods that everyone can include in their diet whether you’re concerned about weight loss or long term wellness. The following 5 foods are going to help you strengthen your immune system, fight cancer cells and cut your processed carbohydrate and sugar intake. You may even get a little intoxicated while trying them!

Matcha:

Matcha is a green tea powder. It very high in group of antioxidants called catechins that are not common in other foods. Specifically, green tea contains the catechin EGCg, which has potent cancer-fighting properties. It’s popping up more and more as an alternative to coffee drinks. I personally love matcha as an afternoon pick me up that contains less caffeine than coffee and when blended with almond milk and a touch of sweetener is a rich, sweet treat that I can feel good about indulging in. Buy matcha powder at home and make your own almond milk matcha latte, or for it at your favorite coffee shop.

Cauliflower “rice”:

Cauliflower “rice” is just raw cauliflower that is shaved down to a rice texture to be used as a lower carbohydrate alternative to rice with a low glycemic index. Cauliflower is a member of the cruciferous vegetable family and is very high in Vitamin C. It’s the white food you should eat! It can also be made into a dough to make a pizza crust. It’s becoming more and more popular. I have even seen cauliflower rice bagged and sold in stores. Because of it’s versatility, it’s a great food to have on hand to add flavor and spices to as a great side dish when you are looking to cut carbs or gluten.

Here’s my recipe for a low-carb, gluten-free, delicious cauliflower crust pizza!

Sauerkraut and Pickled Vegetables:

You will be seeing sauerkraut and other pickled vegetables on more menus and shelves this year. The reason is they contain gut healthy probiotics. Probiotics are being researched like crazy for their ability to feed the good bacteria in your gut, which can lead to improved digestion and even a stronger immune system. Many cultures around the globe eat some form of fermented or pickled foods like kimchi or olives. I try to add a side of sauerkraut or pickled vegetables to a meal once a day.

PS – I’m addicted to this Brassica & Brine raw, organic sauerkraut with a hint of rosemary and lavender. For now, you can only find it in Los Angeles and Brooklyn at these select places. 

Poke is a raw fish salad, usually served as an appetizer in Hawaiin cuisine that is now becoming mainstream in the big cities in the U.S. On the west side of LA alone, we have a few different options to get our poke bowls. Most places serve poke using raw tuna. The benefits of eating poke include getting a good portion of protein with some omega 3 fatty acids. When you can, order your poke with seaweed salad to get an even more nutrient packed meal. Poke bowls are a great low-carb, gluten-free (if no soy sauce is used) meal, however, you do have to limit your consumption of tuna to about once a week to avoid mercury overload.

You can have your wine and drink it too. Wine and alcohol are usually on a dieters no-no list, but now a few companies are making wine with less residual sugars, which results in a lower carbohydrate and cleaner indulgence. FitVine is one such company that I have personally drank their wine and I can tell you that it tastes great! There are no GMO’s or sulfites which can cause headaches in some people. Enjoy the buzz, minus the hangover!