The Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) stands as a premier event for registered dietitians and nutrition professionals, a vibrant hub of innovation and inspiration in the world of food and wellness. Recently, I had the privilege of attending this expansive gathering, and what truly impressed me was the widespread commitment among brands to developing foods that cater to diverse health and dietary objectives. A clear trend emerged: a strong focus on enhancing protein and fiber content, significantly reducing or eliminating artificial ingredients, and prioritizing minimally processed options that align with a wholesome lifestyle. This shift reflects a growing consumer demand for transparency, health-conscious choices, and nutrient-dense foods that support overall well-being.
The expo floor was a treasure trove of exciting new products and innovative takes on classic staples, all designed to empower individuals in their pursuit of healthier eating. Below, I’ve highlighted some of the most remarkable foods I encountered at FNCE, exploring how they seamlessly integrate into various nutrition plans and contribute to a balanced diet. Each item showcased here represents a step forward in making nutritious eating both accessible and enjoyable. For your convenience, you’ll find links to learn more about each product at the end of this article. As always, it is crucial to consult with a qualified physician or registered dietitian who is familiar with your unique medical history before making any significant changes to your dietary regimen, especially if you are managing a health condition through medical nutrition therapy. Your health is paramount, and personalized guidance ensures the best outcomes. — Summer Yule, MS, RDN
Kindling Protein Pretzels: Your High-Protein, Fiber-Rich Snack Solution
In the quest for satisfying yet nutritious snacks, Kindling Protein Pretzels truly shine. These aren’t your average pretzels; they’re a revolutionary crunchy snack crafted with wholesome whole grains and absolutely no artificial flavors. Each serving is meticulously designed to deliver a substantial boost of plant-based protein, making them an ideal choice for sustained energy throughout your busiest days or as a crucial component of your post-workout recovery routine. The combination of protein and fiber contributes to enhanced satiety, helping to curb hunger pangs and support weight management goals. Available in an array of captivating flavors like the tangy Dill Pickle, the sweet and savory Honey Mustard, and the robust Garlic Parmesan, Kindling Protein Pretzels masterfully blend the classic, comforting taste of pretzels with significant added nutritional value. They represent a convenient, guilt-free way to indulge in a savory treat while fueling your body with essential macronutrients.
Goya Low Sodium Beans: Essential Plant-Based Protein & Fiber with Minimal Processing
For those prioritizing heart health and convenient meal preparation, Goya Low Sodium Beans are an absolute pantry essential. These versatile legumes offer a remarkably easy and healthful way to infuse your meals with substantial plant-based protein and dietary fiber, all without the excess sodium often found in conventional canned goods. Straight from the can, they are ready to be incorporated into a myriad of dishes, transforming simple ingredients into nourishing meals in mere minutes. Imagine quickly building robust soups, vibrant salads, or hearty grain bowls that are rich in essential nutrients. Beans are celebrated for their role in digestive health, blood sugar regulation, and cholesterol management, making them a cornerstone of any balanced diet. Goya’s low sodium varieties ensure you can reap these incredible benefits while maintaining control over your sodium intake, proving that wholesome eating can be both simple and delicious.
Banza Waffles: A High-Protein, Fiber-Rich Start to Your Day
Banza has already revolutionized the pasta aisle with its popular chickpea-based alternatives, and now they’re bringing their innovative, protein-packed approach to the breakfast table with their delicious waffles. Breakfast is a meal where many individuals often fall short on protein, leading to mid-morning energy dips and cravings. Banza Waffles directly address this common nutritional gap, offering a wonderfully tasty and incredibly convenient solution to help meet daily protein requirements right from the start of your day. Made from nutrient-rich chickpeas, these waffles provide not only a significant protein boost but also a good source of fiber, contributing to sustained fullness and balanced energy levels. I particularly appreciate how Banza empowers waffle enthusiasts to enjoy a genuinely satisfying and protein-packed breakfast, even on the most hectic mornings. They offer a delightful and guilt-free way to enjoy a breakfast staple while ensuring your body gets the fuel it needs.
California Cling Peaches: Fiber-Packed, Minimally Processed Fruit Convenience
For those seeking effortless ways to boost their fruit intake, California Cling Peaches in convenient single-serve containers are a game-changer. These delightful peaches are harvested at the peak of their ripeness, capturing their vibrant flavor and maximum nutritional value, and then minimally processed to preserve their natural goodness. Each container offers a burst of sweet, juicy flavor, making it incredibly easy to enjoy a serving of fruit anytime, anywhere. They are the epitome of a portable, ready-to-eat option, perfect for enhancing snacks, adding a sweet touch to packed lunches, or enjoying as a refreshing component of an on-the-go breakfast. Rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber, these peaches contribute to digestive health, provide natural energy, and offer a wholesome alternative to processed sugary snacks. They make integrating nutritious fruit into your daily routine both simple and highly enjoyable.
Sweet Potatoes: The Nutritious, Fiber-Rich, and Versatile Whole Food
Sweet potatoes stand out as a naturally nutrient-rich food, a true powerhouse packed with an impressive array of vitamins, minerals, and crucial dietary fiber. They are an exceptional source of beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A, vital for maintaining healthy vision and supporting a robust immune system. Beyond vitamin A, sweet potatoes also provide significant amounts of potassium, an electrolyte essential for maintaining healthy blood pressure and proper nerve and muscle function. Their inherent natural sweetness and remarkable versatility make them incredibly easy to incorporate into a wide range of culinary creations. Whether you prefer them baked to tender perfection, mashed into a creamy side dish, or roasted until caramelized and slightly crispy, sweet potatoes effortlessly elevate any meal. They are a wholesome, minimally processed vegetable that contributes significantly to a balanced diet, offering complex carbohydrates for sustained energy and a host of health-promoting compounds.
Cleveland Kitchen Fermented Vegetables: Boosting Gut Health with No Artificial Ingredients
Cleveland Kitchen offers an exceptional and flavorful line of fermented vegetables, providing an easy way to enhance both the taste and the nutritional profile of your meals. Their diverse range includes classic sauerkraut, spicy kimchi, and creative pickled veggie blends, all crafted with the highest quality fresh, simple ingredients and entirely free from artificial additives. These products are a fantastic source of natural probiotics, beneficial microorganisms that play a pivotal role in supporting gut health, improving digestion, and potentially boosting immune function. Beyond their health benefits, Cleveland Kitchen’s fermented vegetables also impart a distinctive zesty, tangy, and sometimes spicy flavor that can transform ordinary sandwiches, salads, and grain bowls into culinary delights. However, it’s important to note that naturally fermented foods can sometimes be high in sodium. Therefore, if you are actively monitoring or restricting your salt intake, it’s advisable to check the nutrition labels carefully and consume them in moderation.
Jackson’s Sweet Potato Chips: A Simple, Delicious Snack with No Artificial Ingredients
When you’re craving a satisfyingly crunchy snack, Jackson’s Sweet Potato Chips offer a refreshingly simple and wholesome alternative to traditional potato chips. What sets them apart is their commitment to using minimal, high-quality ingredients. The popular Sea Salt variety, for instance, contains only three core components: sweet potatoes, premium oil, and a touch of sea salt, completely devoid of any artificial additives, flavors, or preservatives. This focus on purity ensures a cleaner snack experience. Beyond their appealing simplicity, these chips provide a delicious dose of beta-carotene, the powerful antioxidant precursor to vitamin A that gives sweet potatoes their vibrant orange hue. They represent a convenient and flavorful treat that allows you to enjoy the satisfying crunch you desire while still making a more nutritious choice. Perfect for lunchboxes, road trips, or an afternoon pick-me-up, Jackson’s Sweet Potato Chips are a testament to how simple ingredients can create truly delicious snacks.
Sunsweet Prunes: Fiber-Rich, Antioxidant-Packed, and Minimally Processed Goodness
Sunsweet Prunes are far more than just a sweet treat; they are a concentrated source of natural goodness, offering an impressive profile of fiber, potassium, and beneficial antioxidants known for supporting digestive health and overall well-being. Their naturally rich flavor and uniquely chewy texture make them an incredibly satisfying snack on their own, providing a burst of natural sweetness and lasting energy. Beyond snacking, prunes are remarkably versatile and can be effortlessly incorporated into a variety of dishes. They make a fantastic addition to hot oatmeal or cold cereal, adding natural sweetness and fiber. Chopped prunes can enhance the flavor and texture of salads, while their moistness makes them a superb ingredient in baked goods, often allowing for a reduction in added sugars. With no added sugar or artificial ingredients, Sunsweet Prunes exemplify a simple, nourishing, and delicious way to enjoy the myriad benefits of fruit throughout your day, contributing to regularity and providing essential micronutrients.
Lifeway Kefir: Your Protein-Packed, Probiotic-Rich Drink for Gut Health
Kefir is a truly remarkable tangy, fermented milk drink renowned for its smooth, pourable texture, which is quite similar to a thin yogurt. Lifeway offers an extensive range of kefir varieties that ingeniously combine the benefits of potent probiotics with the added advantage of prebiotic fiber, creating a powerful synergy for gut health. Available in a wide spectrum of delicious flavors, Lifeway Kefir is an excellent way to diversify your breakfast routine while actively supporting a healthy digestive system. The live and active cultures (probiotics) contribute to a balanced gut microbiome, which is increasingly linked to improved digestion, enhanced immunity, and even mood regulation. The addition of prebiotic fiber further nourishes these beneficial bacteria, creating an optimal environment for them to thrive. If you’re looking to refresh your usual morning yogurt habit and introduce a nutrient-dense, gut-friendly alternative, Lifeway Kefir is certainly worth exploring. It’s also a great base for smoothies or a refreshing drink on its own.
Bionaturae and Jovial Pasta: Delicious, Fiber-Rich Whole Grain Options
For pasta lovers seeking to enhance the nutritional value of their favorite dishes without compromising on taste, Bionaturae and Jovial offer exceptional whole grain pasta options. From my experience, these brands have masterfully crafted whole grain pastas that are every bit as delicious and satisfying as their traditional refined-grain counterparts. Making the switch to a whole grain pasta is one of the simplest and most effective ways to significantly increase your daily fiber intake, a crucial nutrient often lacking in modern diets. Fiber plays a vital role in digestive health, promoting regularity, and helping to regulate blood sugar levels, contributing to sustained energy. This effortless dietary swap transforms your beloved pasta meals into more nutritious, gut-friendly, and heart-healthy experiences, allowing you to enjoy all the flavor and comfort you love with added health benefits. It’s a testament to the fact that healthy eating doesn’t mean sacrificing enjoyment.
Dairy Foods: Protein-Packed, Minimally Processed, and Nutrient-Dense Staples
Dairy foods continue to hold their esteemed place as a highly versatile and invaluable source of high-quality vegetarian protein, making them a foundational staple in countless balanced diets across the globe. When chosen in their minimally processed forms, such as fresh milk, natural yogurt, and various cheeses, dairy products deliver a rich array of essential nutrients crucial for overall health. They are particularly renowned for being excellent sources of calcium, which is fundamental for strong bones and teeth, and vitamin B12, vital for nerve function and red blood cell formation. Additionally, dairy provides potassium, supporting healthy blood pressure, and a host of other vitamins and minerals. The protein in dairy is complete, containing all essential amino acids, making it exceptionally effective for muscle repair, growth, and satiety. Whether enjoyed as a refreshing drink, a creamy snack, or an ingredient in cooking, minimally processed dairy foods offer a convenient and delicious way to meet vital nutritional needs.
Fruits and Vegetables: Fiber-Rich, Essential, and Minimally Processed Powerhouses
During the conference, I was particularly thrilled to see the dedicated representatives from The Foundation for Fresh Produce (known for their “Have a Plant” initiative). Their presence and messaging were a powerful reminder of the foundational role fruits and vegetables play in a healthy diet. They actively highlighted an extensive spectrum of fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, passionately advocating for everyone to integrate a greater variety of these vital plant-based foods into their daily diets. This emphasis resonated deeply, reinforcing that fresh produce is not just beneficial but also incredibly accessible and versatile. It served as an excellent reminder of how straightforward and utterly delicious it can be to significantly boost your dietary fiber intake through the simple act of choosing and enjoying more fresh fruits and vegetables. These minimally processed gifts from nature are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, contributing to everything from improved digestion and heart health to disease prevention and enhanced vitality.
Pulses: Fiber and Protein-Packed Plant-Based Powerhouses with Minimal Processing
Pulses, a category encompassing incredibly nutritious legumes such as lentils, chickpeas, and various beans, are undeniably a plant-based staple that packs a serious nutritional punch. They are celebrated for their exceptionally high content of both dietary fiber and plant-based protein, a powerful combination that provides numerous health benefits. The rich fiber content actively supports optimal digestive health, promoting regularity and contributing to a healthy gut microbiome, while the robust protein content helps to keep you feeling fuller for longer, aiding in appetite control and weight management. Minimally processed and remarkably versatile, pulses can be effortlessly integrated into an astonishing array of culinary creations. They shine in hearty soups, add substance to fresh salads, form the base of comforting stews, and can even be surprisingly used in baked goods to boost nutritional value. Their adaptability makes them an incredibly easy and delicious way to enhance the nutrition of virtually any meal. Truly delicious and incredibly beneficial!
Rice: Fiber-Rich, Minimally Processed Whole Grain for Balanced Meals
While many types of rice exist, brown rice stands out as a particularly versatile whole grain that significantly contributes to a healthy diet. It provides an excellent source of dietary fiber, crucial for digestive regularity and helping to stabilize blood sugar levels, preventing energy spikes and crashes. Beyond fiber, brown rice is also rich in essential B vitamins, which play a key role in energy metabolism, and vital minerals such as magnesium and selenium. Incorporating brown rice into your meals is a simple yet effective way to increase your whole grain intake, thereby supporting not only digestive health but overall systemic well-being. Its hearty texture and mild, nutty flavor make it an ideal companion for a wide variety of dishes. Whether served as a satisfying side dish, forming the nutritious base of colorful grain bowls, or integrated into flavorful stir-fries, brown rice remains a staple for creating wholesome, balanced, and truly satisfying everyday meals. It’s a foundational food that champions minimal processing and maximum nutritional benefit.
Chicken of the Sea Seafood: Protein-Packed, Minimally Processed, and Convenient
Chicken of the Sea offers an impressive range of convenient seafood options, providing high-quality protein that is both accessible and easy to incorporate into any meal, anytime. Their products are available in traditional cans and modern, ready-to-eat pouches, catering to a variety of lifestyles and preferences. The selection is diverse, extending beyond classic tuna to include seasoned salmon and an array of flavored tuna pouches, ensuring there’s something to suit every palate. Seafood, particularly fish like tuna and salmon, is celebrated for being an excellent source of lean protein and often rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are crucial for heart health and brain function. These minimally processed options are perfect for quick, nutritious lunches, adding a protein boost to salads, or enjoying as a wholesome, on-the-go snack when time is short. Chicken of the Sea makes it effortlessly simple to enjoy the health benefits of seafood with minimal prep time and maximum convenience, supporting a balanced and active lifestyle.
Honey: A Natural, Minimally Processed Sweetener with Unique Flavor
Honey, a golden liquid produced by bees, stands as a truly natural and minimally processed sweetener that offers more than just sweetness to foods and beverages; it imparts a unique depth of flavor that refined sugars simply cannot match. Its versatility in the kitchen is remarkable, making it a beloved ingredient across countless culinary applications. From stirring a spoonful into your morning tea or yogurt to sweetening homemade salad dressings and enriching the flavor profile of baked goods, honey serves as a wholesome and often preferred alternative to highly processed sugars. Beyond its delightful taste, honey contains trace amounts of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, depending on its floral source. It offers a delicious way to provide a sweet boost without the unnecessary additives often found in artificial sweeteners or heavily refined sugars. Opting for honey allows you to enjoy natural sweetness while embracing a more traditional and less processed approach to your diet.
The innovation showcased at FNCE highlights a clear path forward for the food industry: focusing on whole ingredients, enhanced nutritional profiles, and reduced processing. These standout products exemplify how delicious food can also be incredibly good for you, simplifying the journey towards healthier eating. To discover more about these inspiring products and where to purchase them, please visit: FNCE Food Trends: Where to Buy the Latest Wellness Innovations