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These are all of the healthy, eco and plant-based food and drink trends for 2019, according to Whole Foods

Photo by Alexandra Gorn on Unsplash
Photo by Alexandra Gorn on Unsplash

It's that time of year again. As we edge towards the festive period, we start to think about all of the joys that 2019 holds for us and for foodies, that means one thing: what will we be eating and drinking?

Earlier this week Waitrose annnounced its predictions for the food and drink trends set to big next year, including bitter food, West African cuisine and booze-free cocktails. Now organic produce specialist Whole Foods has revealed its forecasts for the flavours and culinary delights that'll be hitting shelves near you in 2019 and, naturally, it includes plenty of healthy, eco and plant-based food and drink items.

So here are a few examples of what will be tickling your taste buds come the new year, according to the grocery store chain...

'Pacific Rim Flavours'

(Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash)
(Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash)

Expect to be finding inspiration from the "Pacific Rim", according to Whole Food buyers and culinary experts, and by that they mean Asia, Oceania and the western coasts of North and South America.

Think ingredients such as longganisa (a Filipino pork sausage), dried shrimp, cuttlefish and shrimp paste, as well as vibrant colourful fruits like guava, dragon fruit and passionfruit ​for cocktails and smoothie bowls.

Sugar and meat substitutes will also be firmly on the radar. Think jackfruit, which can be swapped in for barbecue pulled pork, and monk fruit extract, an ultra-sweet-tasting fruit also known as luo han guo, that can be used as a sweetener.

Probiotics

While we're still in the early stages of knowing the full effects and benefits of taking a probiotic, supplement forms were far more on the radar in 2018 compared to the previous year.

And Whole Foods expects this to continue well into 2019, going a step further with probiotic-based cleaning and beauty products, like sunscreen and body care.

Ocean-inspired greens

(Photo by Shane Stagner on Unsplash)
(Photo by Shane Stagner on Unsplash)

Ocean-inspired greens, such as seaweed butter and kelp noodles, are already appearing on shelves more and more, according to the retailer, and next year expect to see things like puffed snacks made from water lily seeds, as well as intriguing plant-based tuna alternatives with algae ingredients, crispy snackable salmon skins and kelp jerkies.

(Healthy) fats are back

With the rise of high fat, low-carb diets such as the keto, paleo and the "vegan keto", fats are back in vogue in the diet department. Whole Foods says you should be keeping an eye out for healthy tasty treats, like keto-friendly nutrition bars made with MCT oil powder (a powdered form of medium-chain triglycerides), coconut butter–filled chocolates, popcorn made with grass-fed ghee, "fat bombs" and ready-to-drink vegan coffee drinks inspired by butter coffees to get your fat fill.

Hemp goes mainstream

(PA Wire/PA Images)
(PA Wire/PA Images)

As the interest in hemp and CBD, also known as cannabidiol, continues to grow, the Whole Food experts say you'll be seeing many more products containing these elements in 2019.

"It’s clear that hemp-derived products are going mainstream, if not by wide distribution, then by word of mouth," the report says.

Plant-based gets inspired

(Photo by Nathan Riley on Unsplash)
(Photo by Nathan Riley on Unsplash)

Plant-based eating is all the rage and Whole Foods says that you should expect some inspiring and surprising new creations in 2019, such as substituting popular meaty snacks like jerky with king trumpet mushrooms.

Frozen gets funky

Waitrose also predicted ice cream would be making a comeback in 2019, and Whole Foods' report suggests you'll be seeing more funky and fruity flavours, such as avocado, hummus, tahini and coconut water-flavoured varieties on shelves soon.

"Look down speciality frozen aisles and you might find plant-based frozen desserts like CocoWhip Soft Serve and ice creams with savoury swirls of artisanal cheese (and don’t think you’ll stop seeing those low calorie, high protein players in the frozen aisle anytime soon)," it reads.

Come summer, expect even more icy indulgences like "airy Taiwanese snow ice", Mexican nieves de garrafa, chewy, Turkish ice creams and more boozy popsicles and gelatos (huzzah!).

Eco-Conscious Packaging

(Photo by James Aldrin on Unsplash)
(Photo by James Aldrin on Unsplash)

2018 saw the welcome war on the plastic straw, and Whole Foods predicts that in 2019 there will be an even bigger emphasis on reuse, with more shops going "BYOVB" (bring your own vegetable bag) and traditionally single-use packages going multi-use, like multi-use (and compostable!) food wraps made from beeswax, as well as waxed canvas or silicone alternatives to the usual plastic sandwich bags.

For the full Whole Foods 2019 food and drink report head to wholefoodsmarket.com