Outdoor living is a popular activity that more and more Americans are enjoying. And here’s another hot trend to pick up on: healthy living. Put the two together, and you’ll be in good shape – literally. As a registered dietician, avid gardener and passionate Food Sleuth, I’m constantly seeking what the top food and health trends are. Here are my predictions for the coming year:

Pea picking
I tend to sneak the occasional snack while harvesting my dinner vegetables.
Photo Credit: ©2007 Dan Hemmelgarn
Spinach
My salad greens are harvested just steps from my kitchen. (They’re loaded with antioxidants and other longevity boosters.)
Photo Credit: ©2007 Dan Hemmelgarn
  1. Rising food prices. Blame it on peak oil, the rising price of gas and fossil-fueled alternatives derived from corn and soy. As more food crops are used to make biofuels, consumers can expect to pay more at the supermarket. Looking for ways to make ends meet? Start a vegetable garden this growing season!
  2. Edible landscapes. Health experts confirm that eating more produce is like taking life-extending medicine. Watch as more lawns are replaced with school, community and backyard gardens. Consider planting a fruit-bearing beauty in your yard this growing season.
  3. Bottled water backlash. With every year we seem to get more environmentally aware. And in our increased concern for the wellbeing of Mother Earth, more people are starting to reuse, as well as recycle. This trend may actually slow down the popularity of bottled drinking water. What’s a smart, thrifty, thirsty gardener to do? Head to the tap and refill an old empty bottle.
  4. New health-conscious vocabulary words. The New Oxford American Dictionary selected “locavore” – one who eats locally produced foods within a set radius, of, say, 100 miles – as its 2007 Word of the Year, confirming the popularity of fresh, local foods; connecting with farmers; and reducing “food miles,” or the distance food travels from farm to plate. Now we’re upping the ante. A new word contender for 2008: “ethicurean” – one who seeks out delicious food that’s also sustainable, organic, local, ethical and humane.
  5. “Greenwashing.” Consumers beware! This term defines unjustified claims of environmental virtue in order to create an image and sell a product or brand. You may start seeing the word used more, but true “green living” includes recycling, preserving natural resources, consuming less and reducing litter. Real green ideas: Build and use a rain barrel, plant a rain garden, compost and garden organically.
  6. More confusing food labels. Watch for additional food-quality rating system codes, designed only to make products “shout out” to consumers. Don’t get sucked into the confusion. One of the best ways to keep eating healthily: Grow your own fruits and veggies or shop for whole foods at your local farmers’ markets.
  7. “Functional” foods and beverages. Aging baby boomers are the driving force for dietary supplements with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients. “Super-foods” from the tropics will likely lead the pack. But just remember: Fruits and vegetables harvested fresh from your garden are loaded with anti-aging nutrients, too!
  8. Convenience. American schedules show no sign of slowing, despite our dreams of simplicity. But you can have it all with a kitchen garden! Cut down those trips to the grocery store and drive-through (and keep your money in your wallet) – harvest your dinner from your back yard instead.

Notice the underlying theme? All trends point toward kitchen gardening as key for having a happy, healthy and environmentally friendly lifestyle! (Now that’s outdoor living.)