The nutrition landscape in 2026 is defined by personalisation, sustainability and the move away from restrictive diets.
Food becomes functional, joyful and deeply individual - and athletes are leading the shift toward eating for energy instead of aesthetics.
Take a look at our five trends for the New Year...
1. Precision Fuelling Takes Centre Stage
Metabolic testing, continuous glucose monitors and AI-driven meal planning help people understand exactly how much fuel their training demands - with no guesswork.
As ultra runner Tom Evans says:
“The more you train, the more you need to eat - and that changes every single day. You’ve got to put back what you plan to spend."
2. The Return of Carbs as Fuel
Carbohydrates regain their rightful place as performance essentials. Slow-release oats, fortified grains and timed-carb fuelling become mainstream again - especially as endurance sport participation surges.
3. The Rise of Planet-Friendly Proteins
Algae blends, fermented proteins, hybrid dairy-plant mixes and regenerative-farmed meats become common. People want strength without compromising sustainability.
4. Real Food Fuelling Replaces Packets-Only Approaches
Inspired by endurance sports, people return to real foods: rice cakes, nut-butter wraps, bananas and savoury snacks.
Performance nutrition becomes simpler and more intuitive again.
5. Nutrition for Mood, Not Just Muscle
Serotonin-supporting foods, magnesium-rich snacks and adaptogenic blends go mainstream as people look to reduce anxiety and improve stress resilience through diet.
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