HERE are five of the latest wellbeing trends, but should we keep them or bin them?
WATERMELON
We all carried a watermelon in 2016. Well, those of us who got in on the emerging watermelon juice/water trend did. Yep, move over coconut water (not completely - you’re still in pretty high demand), watermelon quenched our thirst and then some this year, topping up our vitamin and potassium levels and aiding in muscle recovery (thanks to its L-citrulline contents) in the process.
Verdict: KEEP. It’s tasty, simple and a refreshing addition to the, arguably over-saturated, ‘healthy drinks’ market.
HYGGE
OK, the fact snuggling up somewhere cosy and candlelit, with a soothing hot chocolate or glass of red, makes us feel good is hardly groundbreaking. But it was only this year we officially found a name for the cosy good life’s happiness-inducing magic: Hygge. It’s always been a way of life for the Danes, and this autumn saw it snuggle into our everyday vocabulary too.
Verdict: KEEP! Simple, feel-good and basically achievable every day. What’s not to love?
SEAWEED
First came ‘courgetti’ and then 2016 saw an incoming tide of seaweed ‘pasta’. There’s a lot going for it: it’s sustainable, easy to farm, highly nutritious, gluten-free and low-cal - if a tad salty.
Verdict: KEEP - But it’s currently quite expensive (expect to pay almost £6 for a 100g bag, while you can easily get a 500g bag of real pasta for £1).
FLAVOURED NUT BUTTER
The nut butter aisles got a LOT more interesting this year, with palm oil-free brands like Pip & Nut bringing us delights such as Honey Cinnamon Cashew Butter and Coconut Almond Butter. Omega-3 and protein-packed goodness and added flavour.
Verdict: KEEP! And Pip & Nut have just announced they’re launching 1KG tubs.
CLEAN EATING
Nobody’s really sure what it means... Is it just healthy, proper food all made from scratch, no additives etc?! But, haven’t people been doing that for, um, ever? And does it only count as ‘clean eating’ if you post it on social media? Maybe we’re missing something but, either way, it’s smug, and ain’t nothing wrong with a good ‘ol dirty burger every once in a while.
Verdict: BIN. #PleaseStop
By Abi Jackson, Press Association
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