Top 10 best healthy foods for 2026

Want to get the year off to a good start, but not sure where to start? Whatever hitting your health goals looks like for you – whether it’s eating to support your gut health, packing more fibre, flavour and minerals into every bite, or finding easy ways to make healthier choices when doing your weekly shop – we've got you covered.

Kick-start 2026 with these 10 expert healthy eating hacks and better-for-you daily swaps.

• Eat to help yourself thrive on the inside

• Embrace fibre-rich foods

• Sip the little bottle that’s bursting with fibre, sea moss, botanicals and electrolytes

• Pack more flavour, fibre, vitamins and minerals into every bite

• Hit your protein goals

• Biohack your day

• Switch up your snacking

• Eat to support brain health

• Enjoy a rainbow of healthy produce

• Cook some home-cooked healthy recipes

Eat to help yourself thrive on the inside

"Our gut microbiome – the balance of good and bad bacteria in our digestive system – impacts our overall health in so many ways, including our mood, metabolism and immune system,” explains M&S Senior Nutritionist Sophia Thistlethwaite. If you're looking to support your gut health this year, our Good Gut range – which includes everything from cereals and toppers to yogurts and salads – is here to help. Look out for new Good Gut flavoured yogurts, kefirs and shots which include our exclusive new TriMarks™ blend of three ingredients to help you thrive on the inside: fibre, live cultures and Plenbiotic™.

Embrace fibre-rich foods

96% of us don't eat our recommended 30g of fibre a day. In part thanks to the social media trend for fibremaxxing, more of us are paying attention to the importance of including enough fibre to maintain a healthy digestive system. Find it in wholegrains, vegetables, fruit, beans and pulses, nuts and seeds, or cook up some high-fibre recipes.

Pack flavour, fibre, vitamins and minerals into every bite

Our new Nutrient Dense range has been developed by our in-house chefs and nutritionists, made from whole-food, store-cupboard ingredients bursting with flavour, fibre, vitamins and minerals. From speedy meals to snacks, salads and drinks, everything is perfectly portioned to contain high amounts of nutrients per calorie.

Hit your protein goals

Whether you're refuelling after the gym or want to eat sufficient protein to maintain muscle mass, getting your protein fix has never been easier or more delicious thanks to our High Protein range. It includes everything from fuss-free, flavour-packed meals to pasta, bread and yogurts. Don't miss our new High Protein Strawberry Matcha Overnight Oats – irresistible matcha overnight oats topped with strawberry high protein yogurt, with 20g protein per pot.

Biohack your day

Biohacking is a trend that's taken social media by storm, but all it really means is making small dietary changes to support your wellbeing. Our new range of health shots, which includes on-trend ingredients such as collagen and sea moss, makes it easy and convenient to stay in tune with your wellbeing on the go.

Eat to support brain health

Our brains are complex organs, controlling how we think, feel, learn, remember and focus, and lots of factors can affect their health, from physical activity to sleep and – of course – diet. Created with nutrition criteria developed in consultation with the British Nutrition Foundation, our Brain Food range champions six brain health-supporting nutrients that many of us lack in our diets: omega-3 (DHA), iron, zinc, iodine, folate, zinc and vitamin B12. All M&S Brain Food products contain at least two of these nutrients, carry the M&S Eat Well flower health seal of approval, and taste amazing. Enjoy them as part of a healthy, balanced diet.

Enjoy a rainbow of healthy produce

We know the importance of getting your five-a-day, but it's now thought that plant diversity, and aiming to eat 30 different plants a week, can support the diversity of bacteria present in your gut microbiome. Add a sprinkling of seeds to your morning smoothie bowl, cook with spices and herbs, or whizz up a smoothie with some easy frozen berry mix. Plus, look out for the most colourful, vibrant produce in the Foodhall – think vibrant red kiwis, rainbow carrots, Umamium tomatoes and purple Tenderstem broccoli.