3 new foods to try this year

If you’re interested in improving your health but super-strict new year’s resolutions aren’t quite your thing, just make it a vow to tuck into these 3 new foods to try this year.

At the beginning of every new year, loads of us tend to embark on trying something new. Whether it’s learning a new skill, taking up a new language or even trying out a new career path, it seems like it’s the one time we all like change. Being a food lover, I like to think of the new year as a time to try out ingredients I haven’t used before, or come up with lots of new, exciting recipes. Last year was a big food journey for me, and I learnt a lot about cooking. So, with my new-found cooking skill, there are lots of ingredients out there I’m only beginning to discover. So, to include you in my journey this year, I’ve decided to share with you a few of my new favourite ingredients that I can’t wait to use more of this year.

Buckwheat

I first became fascinated with buckwheat after discovering it in its flour form. Wanting to find a healthier alternative to standard plain flour, I was so glad when I found this grain. The flour itself has a smooth texture, perfect for baking. It’s also high in fibre and protein, as well as vital minerals such as magnesium, copper and manganese, just to name a few. Another huge benefit of course is that it’s gluten-free, so can also be enjoyed by all, including those who are coeliac. But the benefits of buckwheat don’t just stop at flour; buckwheat groats can also be used to make a delicious porridge to enjoy in the morning, or even as something different to scatter onto your salad. So, perhaps it’s time we put the quinoa aside and made way for the year of the buckwheat.

Coconut butter

It’s quite clear to see that last year the world went mad for coconuts. After people reignited their love of fats – saturated or unsaturated – coconut became something we all welcomed back into our lives with open arms. Being a lover of coconut, seeing raw coconut oil stacked up on the supermarket shelves was something I couldn’t complain about. However, even though I’m a fan of the flavour, its strong taste can sometimes go unwanted in a recipe, which led me to discover coconut butter. It’s free from any coconut taste while still remaining rich in a creamy texture, making it perfect for any kind of cooking, be it baking or roasting. Coconut butter is made from coconut flesh, so as well as being high in healthy fats – keeping you fuller for longer – it also contains lauric acid, which helps to boost your immune system – perfect for cold and flu season.

Hemp

Growing up on lots of different plant-based milks, I was shocked to have only recently found hemp milk. It’s high in omega-3 fatty acids, and its light, sweet taste made it something I became instantly interested in. After some searching, I discovered that there was much more to hemp: it can be made into a milk, eaten as a seed, oil or even as a protein powder! Being so versatile, hemp will definitely be a staple ingredient I’ll be using in my kitchen from now on. Not only this, but as one of the most eco-friendly crops being grown in the UK, it can also be used to make paper, building materials and house insulation – definitely a wonder crop that’ll be rapidly growing in popularity this year.