BLENDED PROTEINS

Food trends to watch out for...

Blending animal and plant proteins helps us to eat better for the planet and our health – and it’s set to take off in 2022.

Early signs of the trend began last year. Sainsbury’s Halfest campaign recommended mixing half pulses with half meat, while The Laughing Cow launched its Blends Chickpea & Herbs Cheese Spread, combining dairy and plant in portion-controlled triangles. Nutritionists love the blend trend – it helps give a more complete range of nutrients. For example, chickpeas, above, are packed with fibre, not found in dairy products, and are

NOLO BEVERAGES:

With many of us going teetotal, expect to see more NOLO beverages – that’s no and low alcohol beers, wines and spirits – in supermarkets and when eating out.

THE BREAKFAST MAKEOVER:

Breakfasts look set to become more adventurous as we continue working from home, with Middle Eastern shakshuka, inset, (eggs baked in a rich tomato sauce) and Mexican breakfast burritos on the up. Make sure your makeover doesn’t provide more calories, fat, sugar and/or salt than a bowl of porridge or toast!

CALORIES ON MENUS:

From April 2022, a new law means large restaurants, cafes and takeaways will have to display calories on their menus, something brands including McDonald’s and KFC have done for years. The idea is it will help us to make healthier choices and encourage restaurants to put lower calorie

options on the menu.

POTATO MILK:

One in three of us now drinks plant milks, with oat milk currently our top choice. In 2022, potato milk is set to be the latest fad. Look for unsweetened varieties and those fortified with calcium and vitamins B12 and D, such as DUG Original Potato (dugdrinks.com).