# Grain-Free Side Dishes Trader Joe's New Riced Hearts of Palm is a Great Alternative to Rice By Katherine Pendrill | Published 2023-02-25 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/riced-hearts-of-palm References: [traderjoes](https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/riced-hearts-of-palm-075005)  In an effort to provide consumers with more [plant-based side dishes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/trader-joes-onion-flowers), [Trader Joe's](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gluten-free-cheese-ravioli) has just unveiled its new Riced Hearts of Palm product. The new Riced Hearts of Palm side dish is made by an Ecuadorian supplier that takes hearts of palm come from the center of palm trees, processes them, and then rices them so they come out looking like little grains of rice. The mild-tasting veggie is then left unseasoned so you can use it as a blank canvas for your favorite sides and other dishes. Because the dish is gluten-free, vegan, and kosher, Trader Joe's suggests subbing it in for rice to make things like grain-free grain bowls, stuffed peppers, [rice-free fried rice](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rice-sides), and more. Image Credit: Trader Joe's ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.5/10 - Popularity: 27% | Activity: 34% | Freshness: 14% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Plant-based Side Dishes:** Trader Joe's new Riced Hearts of Palm offers a healthier and eco-friendly alternative to traditional rice and grain-based side dishes. - **Grain-free Options:** As gluten-free and grain-free diets become more popular, food companies have an opportunity to create innovative products like Trader Joe's Riced Hearts of Palm. - **Unseasoned Ingredients:** By offering unseasoned ingredients like Riced Hearts of Palm, Trader Joe's allows consumers to create customizable dishes that fit their personal taste preferences. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Food Retail:** Retailers like Trader Joe's can capitalize on the growing demand for plant-based and gluten-free products by introducing new and innovative side dish options. - **Food Manufacturing:** Manufacturers can explore new sources of plant-based ingredients and develop innovative processing techniques to meet the demand for healthier and eco-friendly alternatives to traditional grains. - **Food Service:** Restaurants and food service providers can incorporate new and innovative plant-based side dishes like Riced Hearts of Palm into their menus to attract health-conscious consumers looking for healthier and eco-friendly options. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Cauliflower-Based Ravioli Pastas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gluten-free-cheese-ravioli.md) - [Pre-Prepared Spanish Rice Pouches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spanish-style-rice.md) - [Sustainable Low-Carb Food Ranges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/carb-alternatives.md) - [Organic Rice-Based Beverages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/organic-nondairy-rice-beverage.md) - [Plant-Based Corn Ribs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/seasoned-corn-ribs.md) - [Jackfruit-Based Fish Filets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gluten-free-battered-plantbased-fish-fillets.md) - [Root Veggie Chip Blends](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vegetable-root-chips.md) - [Vegan South Asian Curries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/organic-sri-lankan-curry-rice.md) - [Gluten-Free Breaded Shrimps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gluten-free-breaded-shrimp.md)