Mushrooms add flavor to any dish but expect mushroom use to become more creative in 2018, as mushroom-infused coffees, chocolates and teas are slated to become even more popular. "Mushroom varieties such as reishi, chaga and cordyceps are going to be infused in coffees, chocolates, tea and snack foods because of their immune-supporting and antioxidant properties," says Goldberg.
Cherry is also getting some major buzz this year, thanks to its sweet taste and amazing nutritional profile. Expect tart cherries, in particular, to take center stage since they are a natural source of melatonin and help reduce pain and inflammation in the body. "Different from your everyday sweet, dark cherries, tart cherries are sour, small and bright red," says Chef Mareya Ibrahim, The Fit Foodie and founder of EatCleaner.com. "Little but mighty, these berries have one of the highest ORAC scores — topping blueberries, pomegranate juice and tea by almost triple — with a mega boost of anthocyanins to battle free radicals and repair cell damage. Tart cherry is also known to reduce pain and inflammation and help with post-exercise muscle soreness."
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Blue Matcha
You may remember green matcha taking over your Instagram feed last summer but Marc Marrone, the corporate executive chef of TAO Group, says to expect matcha to still hang around this year too, especially with blue matcha becoming quite popular online. "I have to say the whole matcha trend has started an attraction to the ceremony of making tea," Marrone says. "Blue matcha has started to ride the same train, though it's not really matcha, it's actually dried flowers of the butterfly pea plant. However, it's still packed with antioxidants and amazing health benefits."
Collagen (the main structural protein found in skin and other connective tissue) has gotten a major boost lately thanks to the recent popularity of collagen-infused protein powders and bone both products, which help promote healthy skin and joints. This year, expect the collagen boom to grow even bigger, with unique collagen-infused food products taking the spotlight. "This year, we'll see an increase in collagen-infused everything, from chocolate to chili to pancakes," says Goldberg. "You will also see a surge in collagen builders such as whole food-based supplements."
Pea protein can be found inside yogurts, pasta, protein powders and even milk, making peas the vegetable to watch, according to chef and Mind Body Fork founder Chef Debbie Lee. Aside from providing nutrients and vitamins to those observing plant-based diets, Lee says that peas are very versatile and can be whipped into a variety of healthy dishes in a matter of minutes. "The best part of peas is the versatility in what you can do with them," she says. "I use it as a base to make pea falafels, plant meatloaf and even use it instead of chickpeas for hummus."
