Last updated on June 17th, 2026
Here are the food trends I’m watching in 2026 and what they mean for hockey families.
After attending The Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA) NOW Toronto in September and the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) in October 2025, one thing became clear: food companies are working hard to position their products as functional.
Protein has moved far beyond shakes. Fibre is having a moment. Creatine is showing up in unexpected places. Even traditionally indulgent foods are getting nutritional upgrades.
Some of these food trends have the potential to support young athletes. Others are more marketing than meaningful nutrition.
As a sports nutritionist who works with hockey players, I always come back to the same question:
Will this help support performance, recovery, growth, and development?
Here are the food trends I’m watching in 2026 and what they mean for hockey families.
1. Protein Is Showing Up in Everything
If there was one food trend that dominated both events, it was protein.
Protein chips. Protein cereal. Protein cookies. Protein ice cream. Protein coffee. Protein candy.
Consumers are actively looking for ways to increase their protein intake, and food companies are responding.
For hockey players, this trend isn’t entirely a bad thing. Protein plays an important role in muscle repair, recovery, adaptation to training, immune function, and growth.
Many teen athletes struggle to eat enough protein throughout the day, especially at breakfast and during busy school days. Having more convenient options available can help fill gaps when needed.
The challenge is that some products are being marketed as though protein is the only nutrient that matters.
Athletes need carbohydrates for energy. They need healthy fats. They need vitamins, minerals, and fibre. They need balanced meals.
Adding protein to a cookie doesn’t suddenly make it equivalent to a meal or a balanced snack.
Protein matters. It just isn’t the only thing that matters.
Related: How to Choose the Best Protein Powders for Teen Athletes
2. Fibremaxxing Is Taking Off
If protein dominated the last few years, fibre is next.
Many brands are adding fibre to cereals, snack bars, beverages, baked goods, and other packaged foods. Social media has even given the trend a name: fibremaxxing.
The increased attention on fibre isn’t surprising. Fibre supports digestive health, gut health, blood sugar management, and overall health.
Many Canadians don’t consume enough fibre, including young athletes.
That said, more isn’t always better. Especially if you’re not used to eating a lot of fibre.
For hockey players, timing matters.
A high-fibre meal right before practice, training, or a game can increase the risk of bloating, stomach discomfort, and gastrointestinal distress.
Fibre is important, but athletes should focus on spreading fibre-rich foods throughout the day rather than loading up immediately before activity.
This is one of those trends where context matters more than quantity.
Related: Score Big With These Pre-Game Snack Ideas for Hockey Players
3. Creatine Is Going Mainstream
Creatine was everywhere.
For years, creatine has primarily been associated with strength athletes and supplement stores. Now it’s appearing in beverages, gummies, snack products, and wellness-focused supplements.
This shift reflects the growing body of research supporting creatine’s role in athletic performance and overall health.
For hockey players, creatine remains one of the most studied sports supplements available.
Research supports its use for improving high-intensity performance, power output, strength, training adaptations, and recovery between repeated bouts of intense exercise.
What concerns me is that some products contain very small amounts of creatine but market it heavily on the front of the package.
Just because a product contains creatine doesn’t mean it provides an effective dose. Plus, creatine is an affordable supplement on its own and needs to be taken daily to be effective. So it’s better bang for your buck just to buy a tub of creatine monohydrate (third-party tested, of course).
Families should look beyond the marketing and understand how much creatine is actually being provided.
Related: Are Supplements Safe for Teen Hockey Players? What Parents Need to Know
4. Electrolyte Drinks Continue to Grow
Hydration products occupied entire sections of the trade show floor.
Many of the newest products focus on electrolyte replacement without sugar.
For the average adult sitting at a desk all day, that may be perfectly reasonable. Although they might not need electrolyte beverages at all.
For hockey players, the conversation is different.
Athletes lose both fluids and electrolytes through sweat. They also need carbohydrates to support energy levels during longer practices, games, and tournaments.
One thing I noticed is that many of the newer electrolyte products are being marketed as “cleaner” options because they use natural ingredients, flavours, and colours and contain little to no sugar. For some families, that’s appealing.
What often gets lost in the conversation is that carbohydrates don’t just provide energy. They also play a role in hydration. Glucose helps support sodium absorption in the gut, which can improve fluid absorption and hydration status.
That doesn’t mean athletes need a traditional sports drink at all times. The best choice depends on the situation, including the length and intensity of the activity, the environment, and the athlete’s individual needs.
If your hockey player prefers a sugar-free electrolyte product, that’s completely fine. Just be mindful that they may still benefit from pairing it with a source of carbohydrates, especially during longer or more intense training sessions, practices, and tournaments.
The key is understanding that hydration and fuelling often go hand in hand. Replacing electrolytes is only one piece of the puzzle.
Related: Is Prime Hydration Good for Teen Hockey Players?
5. The Rise of “Functional Junk Food”
This was perhaps the most interesting trend I noticed.
Food companies are taking traditionally indulgent foods and adding ingredients such as protein, fibre, collagen, probiotics, or creatine.
The result is what many people are calling functional junk food.
I’m seeing this trend everywhere:
- Protein candy
- Protein donuts
- Protein cookies
- Creatine beverages
- Fibre-enriched snack foods
- High-protein frozen desserts
I actually think this trend creates an important opportunity for families to have more balanced conversations about food.
A food doesn’t become nutritionally perfect because protein was added.
At the same time, a food doesn’t need to be nutritionally perfect to have a place in an athlete’s diet.
I encourage hockey families to avoid viewing foods as “good” or “bad.”
Instead, think about what role a food is playing.
Is it providing fuel before a game?
Supporting recovery after training?
Helping a player meet their overall energy needs?
Simply bringing enjoyment to a meal or snack?
Most of the time, I still want athletes building their nutrition foundation around whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy products, legumes, nuts, seeds, and quality protein sources.
Those foods provide a combination of nutrients that packaged products often struggle to replicate.
Functional foods can absolutely fit into a hockey player’s diet.
They just shouldn’t replace the fundamentals.
Related: Back-to-School Snacks for Teen Athletes
Final Thoughts
The biggest trend I’m seeing in 2026 is that food is becoming increasingly functional.
Companies are looking for ways to add protein, fibre, creatine, probiotics, and other ingredients to products consumers already enjoy.
Some of these innovations may help make sports nutrition more convenient for busy hockey families.
Others are largely marketing.
As always, the goal isn’t to chase every trend.
The goal is to help athletes consistently meet their nutrition needs so they can train hard, recover well, support healthy growth and development, and perform at their best on the ice.
The fundamentals still matter.
And despite all the trends I saw this year, that hasn’t changed.
Read More: 5 Common Nutrition Mistakes Teen Hockey Players Make (and How to Avoid Them)
