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Wanna know what to expect in 2008 when it comes to packaged foods, dining out, and everything else in the food and diet world? Hungry Girl's got the 411...
Ditch the word "Diet"
We've been saying this forever. The idea of being "on a diet" immediately sets you up for being "off a diet" at some point. Making actual lifestyle changes you can stick to is a far better idea. And it looks like food manufacturers are catching on. Kraft is currently scrapping the name of their South Beach Diet line of foods to reflect this change in attitude -- the line will now be called South Beach Living. It'll still feature nutritious, healthy stuff. But gone is the connotation that you have to be dieting to eat well. Even the Coca-Cola Company is onboard. They've already rolled out an awesome line of no-calorie colas without the word "diet" anywhere in sight -- Coke Zero, Coke Cherry Zero, Coke Vanilla Zero, and Sprite Zero all hit shelves in the past year or so. And Dr Pepper Zero and Fanta Zero are already a hit in other parts of the world -- we're hoping to see 'em on US shelves in 2008!
Portion Control Hits Restaurants
It's no secret that portion-controlled packaged foods are huge sellers. So why shouldn't restaurants get a piece of that pie? T.G.I. Friday's kicked off this trend in '07, when they debuted their Right Portion, Right Price menu. McDonald's also rolled out their Snack Wraps, giving on-the-goers a mini meal option. Even Starbucks has an underground "Short" option for their beverages. This food trend is expected to explode in 2008. So get ready to see more downsized dishes making the menu at even more restaurants in the upcoming year. FYI -- with the average restaurant entree currently packing absurd amounts of calories and fat grams (see some of our scariest finds by clicking here!), controlled portions are perfect for people hoping to downsize themselves in the upcoming year.
Stevia Goes Mainstream
Once upon a time, packaged foods were only sweetened with sugar, which was sad for calorie counters. Then along came no-calorie artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose. That was good news for people watching their sugar (and calorie) intake, but not-so-good news for those opposed to artificial stuff. Well, the best news may be on the way in '08. Stevia, an all-natural calorie-free sweetener already sold in powdered form, could become the latest sweetener to be used in packaged foods. Coca-Cola already filed 24 patent applications for the ingredient, and rumor has it other food brands are eager to jump on the Stevia bandwagon in '08 as well. Guilt-free and all-natural?! Keep your eyes, ears, and mouths open...
Fiber, Fiber Everywhere!
One of HG's fave food trends -- fiber -- is showing no signs of letting up. In fact, food companies are rolling out more decadent and delicious fiber-packed foods. So if the thought of munching on whole grains and figs doesn't excite you, prepare for some seriously crave-worthy fiberiffic foods. Fiber One, gurus of all things delicious and fiber-infused, are set to roll out a brand-new flavor of their insanely good Fiber One Chewy Bars. These things taste like candy bars, yet have only 140 - 150 calories and 4 - 4.5g fat. And each one is loaded with 9 grams of fiber! Another tasty bar brand debuting a new fiberiffic flavor is Gnu Foods. They oh-so-recently rolled out a Peanut Butter bar with just 150 calories and 3 grams of fat... and it's got twelve grams of fiber! Look for it on store shelves in '08. You can also expect to see fiber popping up in other yummy places -- muffins, chocolate, even ice cream. We can't wait for '08!!
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