Boy, do I have great news for you: 2024 is the year when eating chocolate for breakfast will be a must!
Meaning, if you don’t do that, you’ll be considered outdated. Everybody is going to post photos of their chocolatey breakfast on Instagram. You’d better prepare yours too. I know what my breakfast is going to include – pancakes.
Why pancakes? First, I am not much of a cook and yet I love eating good stuff, especially sweet treats. Pancake recipes are easy and simple to prepare. They also allow experimenting with different ingredients, helping you turn them into a healthy or completely decadent delight without spoiling their deliciousness.
That is why I chose pancakes to experiment with some of the food predictions for 2024. I simply must know if there is any good new feature I can include into my favorite breakfast. And it seems like breakfast is going to become very interesting this year.
Eating Pancakes for Breakfast is Hot
Sweets and desserts are expected to be an increasing trend in the year to come. Especially those involving dark chocolate. Chocolate is gaining popularity due to its beneficial properties. “Recent studies linking dark chocolate consumption to positive health benefits may encourage more consumers to indulge in the a.m.” Dark chocolate is proven to be a powerful antioxidant, regulates blood pressure, cholesterol, heart function, cognitive functions and memory, etc. Which means, chocolate is good for you!
Here’s a great way to make your homemade chocolate pancake:
People in 2024 will start re-thinking their meals. The Sterling-Rice Group considers that these factors will lead to eating more sweet things for breakfast. Would you like some chocolate pancakes?
If you are following food trends for real, then you must know how important it is to eat smart. And how important it is not to become overweight and get sick. Indulging yourself in chocolate can still be ok, but pancakes can be improved by making some simple changes into the batter, such as:
- Replace regular flour with whole wheat, oatmeal, coconut flour, almond flour, chickpeas flour or soy flour;
- Replace regular refined sugar with honey, pure maple syrup, molasses, agave syrup or stevia.
You can add a cup of dark chocolate chips into your pancake batter and then cover with a chocolate glaze made by melting some more chocolate chips mixed with coconut oil.
Protein and Omega-3 Pancakes
In 2024 there will be a continued interest in alternative forms of protein. Pancake recipes already contain a good source of protein-eggs.
Choose natural protein-infused ingredients like:
- yogurt (it will add extra fluffiness to your pancakes);
- nuts (pecans, walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts…);
- soy (soy flour and soy milk are great healthy alternatives for banana loaf);
- beans and pulses (peanuts or chickpea flour);
- meats (use turkey and chicken as healthier alternatives in savory pancake recipes)
or add protein powder to the batter. I like the flavored variations for sweet delights, especially banana and vanilla.
Watch this video to learn how to make pancakes with chickpea flour:
When it comes to omega-3 fatty acids, adding a tablespoon or two of flaxseed meal to the batter will do the trick.
Pancakes Promoting Health
“Sterling-Rice also predicts a move to eating for health, using food as medicine. Turmeric became popular in the last few years because of its health benefits and savory flavor, and the group anticipates even more ingredients like it coming into the spotlight.”
Watch this video to learn more:
Turmeric, the main spice in curry, is the most powerful plant on the planet at fighting and preventing diseases, from depression to cancer. Turmeric is very close to ginger (they belong to the same plant family), but you need to go easy on it because of its specific taste.
Following logic, turmeric should pair well with autumn-y pancake recipes like those involving pumpkin, carrot or apple, as well as with other spices (cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg) and vanilla. Try adding ½ teaspoon to the batter for starters and see how it works for you.
Happy eating!
