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Eating and drinking toward wellness in 2025
January 5, 2025
After all the festivities and cravings-satisfied meals, lunches and dinners out, family and friends' reunions over food, January arrives with the promise of what a new year typically brings: hope, clean slate, renewal, and all things between.
The new year ushers in a more dynamic and transforming culinary landscape that is continuously being shaped by several key trends reflective of our evolving priorities. It is definitely a good time to take a pause and assess our food lifestyle and preferences and see where we can improve on, or incorporate healthier habits to sustain us.
We are seeing a growing shift toward wellness and sustainability, with these two key elements driving the food trends this year. Some of these include:
1. Personalized nutrition. Advances in artificial intelligence and genetic testing are transforming how we approach nutrition.
Tailored diets are now more accessible, designed to align with individual metabolic needs and genetic predispositions. This customization not only enhances overall health but also helps to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Food intolerance tests, for example, are widely available to understand what your body can or cannot take.
For those who have done genetic testing and are aware of genetic predispositions such as Type 2 diabetes, vital information such as this helps to make smarter and more informed choices as regards the food lifestyle we choose. This also helps us to look for more sustainable alternatives and incorporate the same in our day-to-day living, including availability of natural remedies. What is essential is knowing our body and feeding it well.
2. Focus on gut health. Digestion, digestion, digestion. With the variety of and access to different foods available to consume, the key element here is the ability of our body to digest whatever we feed it with.
Products enriched with prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics are taking center stage, offering solutions to improve digestion, boost immunity, and foster a balanced microbiome. This focus on gut health underscores its critical role in maintaining overall well-being.
Taking fermented foods or drinks is definitely one way of ensuring good gut health. Incorporating pickled or fermented foods will make for a gut-friendly habit. Even beverages are also sharing in the spotlight in this case as we now have a lot of choices when it comes to fermented drinks. Add drinks such as kombucha, kefir, and other beverages that have gone through the fermentation process in your list as well.
3. Innovations in plant-based foods. The plant-based food movement continues to evolve, with a focus on developing alternatives that deliver on taste, texture, and nutrition. This year, the trend is shifting beyond simple meat substitutes, introducing a wider array of plant-based products designed to satisfy even the most discerning palates. Our country is rich with vegetables that are available and accessible all year-round and without hurting our pockets too.
Going meatless is a good starting point — you can choose certain days or certain meals where you can eat plant-based foods. For the brave ones, doing this cold turkey has also given immediate benefits.
4. Sustainability drives consumer choices. As environmental concerns intensify, consumers are increasingly prioritizing ethical sourcing and eco-friendly packaging. Food producers are responding to this demand by adopting sustainable practices, making it easier for individuals to align their culinary habits with their environmental values.
On top of packaging, sourcing is also becoming an important conversation in the process. The nearer the source, the better. Concerns on carbon footprint come into play with distance. Some also prefer, for practical purposes, subscribing to meal plans rather than cooking every day. This is also true for solo individuals who may find meal plan subscriptions more economical - and sustainable - in the process. For those with large families, batch cooking is one sustainable way of managing meals.
5. Gourmet meets everyday dining. Luxurious ingredients like truffles and caviar are no longer reserved for fine dining. These upscale additions are becoming more accessible, allowing home cooks to elevate everyday meals with a touch of gourmet sophistication. We are seeing many restaurants offering varied tasting menus, each with a story of its own, adding delight to the culinary experience.
All of these trends highlight a collective shift toward mindful eating, where health, sustainability, and culinary creativity converge. In the end, consumers will benefit as more and more choices are becoming increasingly available based on our needs and preferences.
As we embrace these changes, 2025 promises to be an exciting year for food lovers and wellness enthusiasts alike.
Wishing everyone a blessed 2025 and a year of happy cooking!
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Kay Calpo Lugtu is a plant-based nutrition advocate. She studied at the International School of Culinary Arts and Hotel Management (ISCHAM) and took courses locally and overseas. She is also the Chief Operating Officer of Hungry Workhorse, a digital and culture transformation firm. Her advocacies include nation-building, education, and sustainability. The author may be reached at kaycalpolugtu@gmail.com or follow her at Instagram @kaycalpolugtu and @aplateofbahaykubo.