Alissa Steinberg shares four recipes using the top food trends for 2024

The start of every year produces roundups predicting what tasty trends will soon be taking over grocery store shelves. But which ones should be more than just a flash in the pan? Registered dietician Alissa Steinberg shares her favourite food trends for 2024 and the recipes to make them. 

Iced Vanilla Proffee

'Proffee' is making the headlines from a TikTok trend that involves mixing protein and coffee. Why? Adding protein to your coffee offers more convenient and delicious health benefits. Increasing your protein intake throughout the day, especially first thing in the morning, helps to stimulate muscle development, regulates your appetite, and reduces those later afternoon/evening cravings. There are many ways to add protein to your coffee; use trial and error to find your favourite way to spice up your morning cup of joe! 

Miso Mushroom Buckwheat Risotto

Buckwheat is a whole grain that tastes delicious, has a lower glycemic index, is fibre- and magnesium-loaded, protein-rich, and naturally gluten-free. We're all about keeping your menu fun by adding new ingredients, so buckwheat or buckwheat flour is the way to mix up your kitchen game while bringing a firm nutrition profile.

'Beer' Battered Fancy Faux Fish & Chips

We are skipping the fish in 2024 and going flavour-loaded faux instead. Statistically speaking, many people do not eat fish or do not eat fish in large amounts. Plant-based fish alternatives are hitting the shelves with carrots instead of lox, trumpet mushrooms for scallops, and root vegetables in sushi rolls and poke bowls. If you go with this trend, don't forget to top up on omega-3 fatty acids, as fish products are one of our primary food sources! 

Rice Paper 'Bacon' Wedge Salad

We are going BIG with plants in 2024 and re-emphasizing the 'plant' in 'plant-based' foods. This helps cut back on ingredients like saturated fat, a type of fat found in animal-based products that increases cholesterol. Taking it one step further, plant-based brands focus on shrinking the ingredients list in these food products to just two ingredients. Keep an eye out for minimal-ingredient products using mushrooms, walnuts, tempeh and legumes instead of complex meat alternatives.