How do you fill in the blanks?
Water, Water Everywhere –    ____    ____  Drop to Drink

1. Not A
2. But Which
3. How Many

I don’t like to speak in absolutes and extremes, but I can say for sure that there is a topic that has come up with 100% of my clients over the past 4-6 weeks.  Hydration.  Specifically water- how much and what type.
If you’re reading this, you are likely asking yourself at least one of the following:

1. There are types of water?
2. Which water should I drink?
3. How much should I drink?

To (over) simplify it, innovative people knew healthcare professionals were promoting hydration via low to no calorie options and consumers demanded options that tasted good.  This was also occurring around the same time that a variety of alternatively sweetened beverages were hitting the market and consumers were hearing messages to decrease the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages in our diets. Pair an innovative person and a businessman (perhaps the same person) and we started to see a shift in what was being sold at the stores. 

• What most people heard? 
  • Drink more water. 
• What happened?
  • People who had been buying sugar-sweetened drinks switched and people who were bored with regular water started looking for alternatives.
  • Demand increased, so supply followed and here we are today: sanding in front of a grocery-store aisle full of choices for water.

According to "What's Trending in Nutrition" plants will be powering consumers’ plates in 2017.  So who better to talk trends with than Sharon Palmer, The Plant-Powered Dietitian?! 
 
This annual survey conducted by Today’s Dietitian and Pollock Communications asks dietitians (1700 responded) to weigh in on what we think will, and won’t, be weighing on our clients’ minds in the coming year.   Below is a summary of our discussion on the survey:
 
Sharon and I agree that the term Superfoods can send shivers up the spines of some registered dietitians, since it’s not a clearly defined or regulated term.  Additionally, it’s not up to one food to provide the necessary nutrients for each unique individual.  This survey calls out 10 foods themes, or Superfoods, that dietitians feel Americans will consume more of this year. Eight out of these 10 food themes are centered on plants with a focus on fats taking the top 3 spots [Seeds, Avocado & Nuts]!  As a dietitian, I would be thrilled with an increase in consumption of these food themes this year - they are nutrient rich and have potential health benefits, when eaten in moderation and are balanced with high-quality foods from all food groups and an active lifestyle, of course. 
 
Speaking of moderation and balance – Sharon and I also discussed our excitement around a focus on overall Meal Patterns as opposed to ‘Diets’.  Let’s continue to focus on what we CAN eat and how to ENJOY all of it, over time! When we eat due to physical hunger, stop when we are full and get a balanced intake of varied nutrients throughout the day and over the week, we are eating mindfully.  When was the last time you stopped, closed your eyes and smelled your food before eating it?  When was the last time you slowed down at mealtime and really tasted your food?  Heck, when was the last time you didn’t multi-task while eating?  These are all examples of being more mindful around eating, and practicing them more often will help clue you in to your bodies’ signals of true hunger and fullness.   I asked Sharon about her favorite resources on mindful eating and she said that she likes Brian Wansink’s work and added that food diaries and apps can play a part in mindful eating if it helps someone to be more aware and “avoid the nonstop noshing”.
 
Compared to 2016, dietitians report there will be less concern in 2017 over things such as GMO-free, sustainable or gluten-free.   This doesn’t mean consumers aren’t still thinking about these things; it’s just that there are other areas creeping into the minds of consumers ahead of them.  Sharon and I agree with the surveyed dietitians that an increase in transparency on the part of the food industry is likely a contributing factor.  I hope the decrease in concern is also a result of registered dietitians educating shoppers on food facts and more consumers understanding how individual nutrition advice really is!
 
I’d love to hear your thoughts and questions on these topics so keep the conversation going in the comments section below!
 
For more information on the "What's Trending in Nutrition" survey, visit: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-survey-taps-over-1700-dietitians-to-predict-top-2017-food-trends-300376374.html
 
For more information on Sharon or to read her blog, check out: http://sharonpalmer.com/meet-sharon/