This year is already proving to be unpredictable …

From healthier trends in food and beverage to how you can help those residents affected by the Southern California wildfires, January is certainly one to remember.

Photo by Fabian Møller on Unsplash

I will be intentional in every word I write in 2025. Not that I haven’t done that in the past, but it feels more urgent today. Whether we’re talking about our health, our mental health or how we treat one another, it’s all relative.

For example, when I set out to curate the product lineup for my first television segment of the year, I was indeed intentional about each item. This was the first time I’ve ever done a television segment featuring the top food and beverage trends of the year. I only get approximately 3 1/2 minutes when I’m on FOX-32 Chicago with anchor Sylvia Perez, so I’d better make the most of it!

Choosing products to display and discuss for such a segment is especially difficult because there are so many outstanding brands to consider. I first think about taste because if it doesn’t taste good, then why are we even talking about it?! Equally as important is motivation behind the development of the product, plus sustainably sourced ingredients and the founders’ commitment to bettering the community.

I love the story behind Oktane Energy Drink, whose founders consist of a former professional bodybuilder and U.S. Marine Corps veteran. I chose the product as the perfect example for hot trend hydration innovation.

I met wife-and-husband team Toni Covington and ISupreme Watkins at a Startup CPG networking event in Washington, D.C. last spring. They were relaunching their beverage brand and were very excited to talk about all the changes ahead. That included a brand-new flavor, Blueberry Surge, plus the switch to alternative sweetener monk fruit to make the beverage zero calories. Packaging was also updated with more sustainable and recyclable materials. Oh, and it’s delicious and refreshing.

Even my personal trainer/nutrition coach—who I often use as a Guinea pig to test out tons of natural food and beverage brands—enjoyed it. It’s great to have someone like Victor in my corner because he helps me better understand labels and ensures that I’m getting enough protein and fiber in my diet. He’s my secret weapon during my quest to discover the best products. For me, Victor’s approval is the equivalent of a Siskel and Ebert thumbs up.

One more thing about Oktane: This small, minority-owned brand does so much for the community that spawned it. Covington and Watkins are prominent in the fitness community, and sponsor many events throughout the year in the D.C. area.

Watch the FOX-32 Chicago segment to see what I had to say about trends for women’s health, particularly perimenopause and menopause. Celebrities like Carla Hall and Halle Berry have been outspoken proponents on the subject, which has motivated more brands to develop new products.

New on the scene is Erin Baker’s Immunity Snack Mix. Let me tell you that this is good stuff, and I was thrilled to feature it during Sylvia’s show. It’s not your typical granola mix because it contains adaptogen clusters, reishi and ashwaganda powders, to help ease memory loss and brain fog. Those are two symptoms of menopause and perimenopause. I would much rather devour a bag of these protein-filled baked goodies than supplements. You can also top off yogurt or ice cream with them. Mmmmmm.

Founder Erin Baker gives back by helping to shape future generations. Her product line of Breakfast Cookies—another item approved by Victor!—is a delicious start to many children in the country. Through her partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs, she has donated more than one million of these nutritious cookies to children. Each month, her company also donates books to the clubs to distribute throughout the country.

I am eternally grateful to have a platform to be able to support and amplify such deserving brands and companies and people. I appreciate that Sylvia thinks about the food and beverage industry similarly. She wanted to do more, she maintains, which is why she launched the Supper with Sylvia podcast last fall.

“When restaurants were in trouble, I wanted to give them a voice to help them stay open and make money,” explains the veteran television anchor and reporter. “Then I realized the struggle is constant, and there are so many untold stories behind the food that people don’t realize.”

A podcast is an opportunity for Sylvia to have more in-depth conversations with her guests. “Bottomline, I’m a storyteller and this gives me another outlet outside of TV to spend more time and dig a little deeper into the backgrounds of what drives these people and places. I always say the food is what brings us together, but it’s the background stories that bring this podcast to life.”

Thus far, she’s chatted with chefs Art Smith and Bill Kim about their establishments, Josh Noel and Al Roker about their new books, and Monica Eng, Phil Vettel and Yours Truly about the industry. I look forward to checking out her podcast as it develops.

Sylvia and I often talk offline, and we most recently discussed what we could do to help those affected by the California wildfires. I’m reaching out directly to some people to help. There are also organizations, restaurants and companies that are doing their part to help. Here are a few (let me know if I should add someone to this list):

Aid for Altadena Community. There’s a grassroots movement to help residents of this historic Black community, many of whom have lost everything. Here is a google document where you can directly donate to the affected families.

Chefs in Action: LA Fire Relief Brunch. Girl & The Goat Chicago serves as host for this event where owner/chef Stephanie Izard teams up with several Chicago chefs to raise money for the CA Wildfire Disaster & Relief Fund. Participants include Maneet Chauhan, Jason Vincent, Joe Sasto, Jonathon Sawyer and Karen Akunowicz. The event includes brunch, an auction and cash bar. 11am Jan. 19. It’s $150 per person. Izard is also donating a portion of proceeds from the Los Angeles Girl & The Goat outpost.

Chicago Chefs Cook for LA, presented by Lifeway. Even more Chicagoland chefs join forces for another generous benefit by Chicago Chefs Cook. Thus far, more than 50 restaurateurs have stepped up to help by pledging a portion of proceeds from special menu items to the cause. By dining at these restaurants throughout January and February, you will directly support the recovery and revitalization of the culinary community in Los Angeles County. See the growing list of restaurants here.

Disaster Relief Fund for Hospitality Workers. Nonprofit Another Round Another Rally’s relief fund enables the group to provide real-time financial support to hospitality workers impacted by wildfires, hurricanes and other major disasters throughout the country. They’re working overtime to help survivors of the wildfires. Here’s the link to donate.

National Day Laborer Organizing Network. Here’s another organization that desperately needs our help. It assists undocumented immigrants, some of who are the foundation of the hospitality industry. Here’s how to help.

Supergut. The Los Angeles-based protein bar brand is donating 15,000 bars to Hollywood Food Coalition, LAFD Foundation and Baby2Baby. These are organizations providing critical aid and resources.

World Central Kitchen. The group’s dynamic relief team is able to support those impacted by the wildfires, as well as first responders, in Southern California. According to the agency, teams have mobilized to bring in meals to those who are in need of help. Here’s where to donate.