Seeds, Avocados, and Nuts Top List of 2017 Superfoods to Watch in Dietitian Survey

A new survey of more than 1700 registered dieticians suggests that seeds, avocado, nuts, fermented foods, and ancient grains are the top “superfoods” to watch in 2017. But compared to previous years, consumer interest in dieting, GMO-free foods, and sustainably produced foods is on the decline, according to the survey.

The results, released by Pollock Communications and nutrition trade magazine Today’s Dietitian, come from a poll of registered dietitians across the United States on what they expect will define 2017’s big trends in food and eating. While the survey indicates dieticians expect consumers to be less interested in dieting than in previous years, other nutrition priorities saw an upswing in this year’s survey. For instance, 49% of responding dieticians believe consumers will choose “mindful eating” over dieting, and 59% of respondents say consumers will choose to “eat clean” by looking for less processed foods. Instead, whole foods like vegetables, fruits, fermented foods, and ancient grains will be increasingly sought after, according to the survey.

The polled dietitians were also asked to identify the top-10 “superfoods” in 2017. While many of the winners have cracked the top-10 list in previous years, Pollock Communications notes, there were a few key shifts. Salmon, for instance, made the list for the first time ever, while kale continued to move down the list of superfoods compared to previous years.

Here is the full list of top-10 “superfoods” for 2017:

1.     Seeds, such as chia and hemp

2.     Avocado

3.     Nuts

4.     Fermented foods

5.     Ancient grains

6.     Kale

7.     Green tea

8.     Coconut Products

9.     Exotic fruits

10.  Salmon

Another interesting finding in the survey is, compared to 2016, dieticians expect consumers will be less concerned with foods that are GMO free, sustainably produced, or gluten free. This decline may be due to increased food-label transparency, the dieticians note, according to Pollock Communications. Instead of these nutrition trends, more consumers in 2017 will be looking toward low-sodium and sugar-free options, according to the survey results.

"The annual Pollock Communications and Today's Dietitian survey continues to provide a powerful view of what consumers are thinking and doing," says Louise Pollock, founder and president of Pollock Communications, in a press announcement.  "Registered dietitians have firsthand knowledge of how and what Americans eat. Therefore, each year consumers, industry, and health professionals get a front-row seat and unrivaled access to what's trending in nutrition."

Additional results of the survey can be found here.

Read more:

Mintel Predicts Top 2017 Food and Drink Trends

Personalized Nutrition, Inflammation Will Be Key in 2017, Says New Nutrition Business

Clean Label and Plant Ingredients Are Top Trends for 2017, Says Innova Market Insights

Michael Crane
Associate Editor
Nutritional Outlook Magazine
michael.crane@ubm.com