What's the Deal: Healthy food trends

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Wednesday, July 5, 2017
What's the Deal: Healthy food trends
What's the Deal: Healthy food trends - Alicia Vitarelli reports during Action News at 4:30 p.m. on July 5, 2017.

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Chia, coconut and charcoal are just some of the "it" health ingredients in products everywhere.

And there's a new crop of foods about to step into that spotlight.

A Bucks County dietitian just scanned the new trends at the Fancy Food Show in New York City and shows us what's coming up big.

Registered Dietician Kelly Jones says Bucks County based Steaz is channeling the hot new anti-inflammatory and antioxidant ingredient - cactus.

And have you ever heard of switchel? The gut-healthy concoction has actually been around since the 17th century.

"It has 2 really hot ingredients - apple cider vinegar which has been talked about for a while and ginger, which is very trendy right now," said Jones.

It's sweetened with maple syrup or honey and comes either still or sparkling. Jones says it's this year's kombucha.

"It's refreshing and this may have a health benefit to it, so why not," she said.

Speaking of honey, she says the energy boosting natural sweetener is popping up in just about everything, especially the top shelf kind.

"The royal jelly is what the queen bee eats so that's what's in that fancy new energy drink," she said.

Next, is the wine grape. From Chardonnay to Cabernet, they're the crunchy new kids in the snack aisle.

"It's raisins with even more antioxidants," said Jones.

And grab and go is going preservative-free, like the new resealable olive pouches.

Essential oils are finding their way into foods, like these ayurvedic chocolates.

Jones adds that chick peas are having a moment. The newest trand has them covered in chocolate.

"Instead of maybe having chocolate covered almonds that are a lot higher in fat and sugar this satisfies sweetness that you need," she said.

And then there's tiger nuts, which are rich in pre-biotic fiberand great for digestion.

But they aren't actually nuts, it's a tuber like a potato or beet.

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