Did you Know You’re Missing Out on the Hot New Food Trend for 2022: Reducetarianism

So, I was doing a little research on the up and coming food trends for 2022. I love trying new foods and seeing what’s popular.  I turned to Google and started reading through lists from The Today Show, MSNBC, Whole Foods Market Trends to name a few.  All the lists I read talked about plants: plant based, plant focused eating, etc.  However, many lists were naming a very specific plant trend: Reducetarianism.

Reducetarianism (say that 3 times fast, or just try typing it…).  My first thought was reducing food waste, but I was wrong. Maybe reducing overall food intake?  Nope.  According to The Reducetarian Foundation, “‘Reducetarians’ are committed to eating less meat and dairy, and fewer eggs – following their own hearts and individual motivations.”  This trend is for people wanting to start cutting out some animal products.  It’s a gradual reduction in meat (red meat, seafood, poultry), dairy, and eggs.  The end goal is up to the individual. This group includes vegetarians and vegans, but also people who still eat animal protein; this trend is not all or nothing, which is appealing to some people who aren’t ready to commit to a vegetarian lifestyle.

Why jump on the reducetarianism bandwagon?  Research has shown again and again that plants are great for your overall health with benefits including, but not limited to, better blood sugar control, reduced cancer risk, reduced risk of heart disease, improvement in blood pressure, weight management, not to mention a happy gut.  Not only does eating more plants help your body, but it helps the environment and reduces your carbon footprint.  Plus, the animals might thank you.

Any downsides?  There can be.  Making these changes gradually can help you avoid some of the concerns with going more plant based.  Here are some common issues:

• Some manufactured plant based foods come with a long list of ingredients and a high salt content or other ingredients you might not want.  Check the label before putting it in your shopping cart.
• Just because it’s plant based, doesn’t mean it’s the healthiest option – think french fries.
• Don’t just “skip” the meat/dairy/eggs; you need to replace them with another protein source (beans, nuts, tofu, soymilk, etc).  Without replacing the item, your diet could be too low in protein.

Ready to give it a go?  Given all the new plant based foods out there, it might be easier than ever to cut out animal products.  There are meatless burgers, bacon, fishsticks, jerky, deli “meat”, hot dogs, and “meat”balls, to name a few.  Or, you could try some easy at home swaps to get started.  Some options include:

• Substituting oat milk for dairy milk in your morning coffee or cereal
• Experiment with a black bean burger or grilled portobello mushroom in place of a beef burger
• Try a meatless chili – focus on beans for protein with lots of peppers and potatoes
• Tofu can be scrambled in place of your morning eggs
• Replace that mayo on your sandwich with heart healthy avocado
• Dip those veggies in hummus instead of a sour cream based dip

So if you want to be a trailblazer, or just want to cut back on animal based proteins, this might be the option for you!

Stay Happy, Stay Healthy

This blog was written by Chris Henigan MS, RD, LDN, co-founder of Simple Start Nutrition.  For more blog posts and nutrition information follow @simplestartnutrition on Instagram and Facebook.  Also feel free to contact us, by visiting our website (simplestartnutrition.com) to schedule an appointment to discuss your nutrition related needs.  We’re here to help.