Trendy foods to follow

Sydnie Petteway knows a thing or two about trending foods, consumer tastes and buying habits.

Petteway, the ordering manager at Healthy Organic Natural Market, says customers will flock to anything delicious and nutritious, especially if it has been featured on popular TV shows.

“Anything that is on ‘The Dr. Oz Show’ is something people will want to start buying,” Petteway said. “They will come in here and buy it for about a week.”

Petteway’s trendy Lakewood Ranch market isn’t the only retailer seeing a flood of health-conscious consumers. Local farmers markets, grocery stores and restaurants are catering to the trends, stocking their shelves with gluten-free, organic and non-GMO offerings to meet demand. And schools also are getting into the game.

Larger stores, like Publix Supermarket, have to keep a close eye on trending consumer demand. Brian West, the media and community relations manager for Publix in central, western and Southwest Florida, says consumer demand is different in each store, so the stores stock shelves to meet that demand.

“Over the last few years we have definitely noticed a trend in organics,” West said. “Organic food is very popular with our customers. Also trendy is different milk items, or dairy substitutes like almond milk and soy.”

As far as big picture goes, West said the public has demonstrated an increased desire to eat a healthy diet.

“Over the past 15 years, there has certainly been an awareness in eating healthy,” he said. “People are becoming more conscious of the things that they eat or drink.”

Topping the trendy foods list locally is turmeric.

Petteway, of Healthy Living Organic Natural Market, said the store has been stocking turmeric for about a year, and it’s been “going quickly,” she said.

“People love turmeric,” Petteway said. “We are selling a lot of it lately — the powder, capsules, the root and the tablets, too. Turmeric is a good anti-inflammatory, and here, we cater to an older crowd. Turmeric helps with arthritis or any pain that is caused by inflammation.”

Brian Ipe, store manager at Detwiler’s Farm Market, said customers also are clamoring for honey, coconut oil and gluten-free items.

“The foods with the least amount of processing are what seem to be a hit around here,” Ipe said. “We sell a lot of coconut oil, which is the new fix-all product because you can use it on your skin, nails, hair and you can cook with it.”

Detwiler’s Farm Market carries aloe leaves, exotic spices and even dragonfruit when it is in season.

Generally speaking, though, consumers get what they want when they take a trip to the market. And, markets are only happy when their customers are, too.

FIVE HEALTHY FOODS TRENDING RIGHT NOW AND WHY

1. Turmeric (the main spice in curry): Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric, which is a strong antioxidant that acts as an anti-inflammatory. Those with pain like arthritis will often explore turmeric for relief. Turmeric is available in pill form, powder or the turmeric root.

2. Chia seeds: Though tiny, chia seeds have been trending because they deliver a ton of nutrients to the body with few calories. One ounce of chia seeds contains 11 grams of fiber, 4 grams of protein, 9 grams of fat, 18% of the daily requirement for calcium, 30% for manganese and 27% for phosphorus. When combined with a liquid, chia seeds transform into a gel-like substance, allowing for an easy, healthy clean up of your gastrointestinal tract.

3. Dairy milk substitutes: Almond milk, coconut milk, hemp milk and soy milk are among the most popular of dairy substitutes. Soy milk can contain isoflavones, which are associated with reducing heart disease. Almond milk contains about 50% of the daily requirement for vitamin E in one cup. Coconut milk is often purchased by consumers who prefer gluten-free or soy-based items, and is suitable for most types of baked goods. Hemp milk provides more iron than cow’s milk and is also high in omega-3 fatty acids, known to help heart and brain health.

4. Flax seeds: Flax seeds are high in fiber, low in carbs and full of healthy fats, helping you feel satisfied for longer. Additionally, studies in the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism have shown that flax seeds can naturally reduce cholesterol. Most people use flax seeds in smoothies, oatmeal or cereal to add a bit of a nutty taste and additional protein.

5. Coconut oil: This can be used for an assortment of things — cooking, skin and hair care or even lip moisturizer. Coconut oil is classified as one of the few “superfoods,” because it is rich in saturated fat, the good kind of saturated fat that’s used for quick energy. Health benefits include metabolic increase, improved blood cholesterol levels and killing of harmful micro-organisms.