Are you the one who's considered to be the "trendy one" in your family or tribe? If so and you're planning on doing a little bit of hosting this holiday season, I thought it would be cool to share with you some of the foods that are going to be super popular, come — what in the world is going on with time?! — 2022. That way, as you're serving up drinks and/or dishes and folks are asking you where the inspiration came from, you can tell them that you already know what's gonna be big next year and you wanted to put them up on game. Ready?
1. Turmeric
It actually doesn't surprise me that turmeric tops the list of food trends for next year. I mean, it's already a spice that's really popular (especially in traditional Indian dishes) and it's got a great reputation for being super beneficial, health-wise, thanks to the active ingredient curcumin that's in it. As far as benefits go, turmeric is good for you because it contains non-inflammatory properties, it's loaded with antioxidants, and it even has a reputation for reducing depression-related symptoms.
From personal experience, I'll just say that because turmeric also tends to be a natural blood thinner, be careful about constantly taking it as a supplement. I used to until I connected it to why the amount of blood that I was losing during my period had increased, significantly so. Still, if you want to use it to prepare some dishes, it's definitely a spice that you want to have in your medicine cabinet.
Turmeric Recipe: Turmeric Chicken and Rice
2. Mocktails
What many vegan alternatives are to meat, that's basically what mocktails are to cocktails because I'm pretty sure you know that they are cocktail-style drinks that are "zero-proof" (which means they have no alcohol in them). While some of you may be reading this and thinking, "Hell, what fun is in that?" because there are so many varieties when it comes to mocktails, they can be highly enjoyable if you want something cocktail-ish in the middle of the day or you want to start off happy hour with a couple of them, so that you won't go overboard on the "real" stuff.
Mocktail Recipe: Mango Mule Mocktail
3. Potato Milk
It seems like every day, there is some sort of new milk alternative. While I'm personally an oat milk gal myself (I used to be all about almond milk until I found out that the preparation process isn't the best for the environment), I am intrigued enough about potato milk that I just might give it a shot.
One of the main reasons why it's caught my attention is because potato milk is high in two vitamins that a lot of us Black women are sometimes low in — vitamins B12 and D. Since it's also a good source of vitamins A, C, and E, along with calcium and iron, plus it's sustainable and environmentally friendly, it couldn't hurt to give it a shot, right?
By the way, word on the street is it's not available in stores in the United States but it is fairly easy to make at home.
DIY Potato Milk Recipe: Here
4. Umami
OK, so this point is interesting. If you didn't know, there are five basic tastes — sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and savory. Well, umami is another word (a Japanese one) for tastes that fall into the savory category. Some foods that come to mind are broths, cooked meats, aged cheeses, seafood, and mushrooms. So, if aromatic-spicy stuff is naturally your thing, 2022 is definitely gonna be your year.
Savory Recipe: Chicken Potpie Galette with Cheddar-Thyme Crust
5. Moringa
Moringa is a plant that grows in India and also in tropical and subtropical places. Its nicknames are "miracle tree" and "drumstick tree" and it comes with an impressive amount of health benefits including the fact that it's a good source of vitamins A, B, C, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and zinc. When it comes to protecting your liver, strengthening your hair and skin, speeding up the healing process of wounds, lowering your blood sugar levels, and even treating asthma-related symptoms, moringa has you covered. Oh, and if you're wondering what in the world it tastes like, matcha is probably the best comparison.
Moringa Recipe: Vegan Moringa Oatmeal
6. Sunflower Seeds
Ice cream that has sunflower seed oil in it. Sunflower seed butter. Chocolate-covered sunflower seeds. Chile, as far as trendy seeds next year go, sunflower seeds will definitely be topping the list. It's good to know since they contain Vitamin E, plant compounds, protein, and fatty acids. Plus, sunflower seeds can help to fight inflammation and lower blood sugar levels. All solid reasons to add sunflower seeds to your healthy snacks list (if you haven't already).
Sunflower Seeds Recipe: Collard Greens Salad with Ginger and Spicy Seed Brittle
7. CBD-Infused Peanut Butter
With all of the buzz surrounding cannabis, in general, I'm thinking you probably know that there is THC (the main psychoactive cannabinoid in weed that makes you feel "high") and there is CBD (another chemical compound in weed although it isn't psychoactive). The reason why CBD continues to grow in popularity is that it's able to do everything from relieving pain and reducing anxiety to decreasing many cancer-related symptoms and strengthening your circulatory system.
While I would've never thought to pair it with peanut butter, since peanut butter is a good source of Vitamin E, iron, protein, fiber, copper, magnesium, and niacin, I can see why someone would have experimented with it and liked the end results. Anyway, this will be something else to look out for in 2022. From what I've read, it's also a really big thing for dogs; a company that carries it for them is Honest Paws.
DIY CBD-Infused Peanut Butter Recipe: Here
8. Hibiscus
Basically, hibiscus is a flowering plant with a tart taste that is most popular in tea form. And yes, it will be a huge food trend next year as well. Health benefits-wise, hibiscus contains antioxidants that help to fight off free radicals, it's able to lower your blood pressure, it can help to increase your liver's level of health, it assists with removing harmful bacteria from your system and it contains cancer-fighting compounds. And again, while hibiscus is best known for how it is used in beverages, 2022 is probably going to be the year when you see it prepared in all sorts of different ways.
Hibiscus Recipe: Hibiscus Flower Quesadillas
9. Omakase
This one isn't exactly a food — it's more like a cooking style. Omakase is a Japanese phrase that can be said in restaurants when what you mean to convey to the chef is "I'll leave it up to you." And while you might wonder why in the heck you would do that if you're at a favorite restaurant or you're going to one that is highly recommended, you want to specialize in a dish, yet you're not exactly sure what you want to go in it "omakase" can be the way to go. For obvious reasons (I'm thinking), this goes over best at sushi restaurants; however, if you apply this method elsewhere, you could be in for a pleasant surprise.
Check Out MasterClass's "Omakase Guide: 5 Things to Know Before Trying Omakase"
10. Childhood Favorites
Finally, nostalgia is also going to be big in 2022. Basically, any food that takes you back to your childhood days is something that you will probably have an easier time finding whether it's a certain kind of candy, cereal, drink, or anything else. So, if you want to take your taste buds down a memory lane stroll, next year would be the time to do it. Enjoy!
Where to Buy Vintage Candy: Old Time Candy
Featured image by Getty Images
It's kinda wild that, in 2025, my byline will have appeared on this platform for (what?!) seven years. And yeah, when I'm not waxing poetic on here about sex, relationships and then...more sex and relationships, I am working as a certified marriage life coach, helping to birth babies (as a doula) or penning for other places (oftentimes under pen names).
As some of you know, something that I've been "threatening" to do for a few years now is write another book. Welp, October 2024 was the month that I "gave birth" to my third one: 'Inside of Me 2.0: My Story. With a 20-Year Lens'. It's fitting considering I hit a milestone during the same year.
Beyond that, Pumas and lip gloss are still my faves along with sweatshirts and tees that have a pro-Black message on them. I've also started really getting into big ass unique handbags and I'm always gonna have a signature scent that ain't nobody's business but my own.
As far as where to find me, I continue to be MIA on the social media front and I honestly don't know if that will ever change. Still, if you need to hit me up about something *that has nothing to do with pitching on the site (I'm gonna start ignoring those emails because...boundaries)*, hit me up at missnosipho@gmail.com. I'll do what I can. ;)
Claudia Jordan, Demetria McKinney & Jill Marie Jones On 'Games Women Play' & Dating Over 40
What do you get when you mix unfiltered truths, high-stakes romance, and a few well-timed one-liners? You get Games Women Play—the sizzling new stage play by Je’Caryous Johnson that’s part relationship rollercoaster, part grown-woman group chat.
With a powerhouse cast that includes Claudia Jordan, Demetria McKinney, Jill Marie Jones, Carl Payne, Chico Bean, and Brian J. White, the play dives headfirst into the messy, hilarious, and heart-wrenching games people play for love, power, and peace of mind. And the women leading this story? They’re bringing their whole selves to the stage—and leaving nothing behind.
From Script to Spotlight
The road to Games Women Play started over 20 years ago—literally.
“This script was written 20 years ago,” Jill Marie Jones said with a smile. “It was originally called Men, Money & Gold Diggers, and I was in the film version. So when Je’Caryous called me to bring it to the stage, I was like, ‘Let’s go.’” Now reimagined for 2025, the play is updated with sharp dialogue and modern relationship dynamics that feel all too real.
Demetria McKinney, no stranger to Je’Caryous Johnson’s productions, jumped at the opportunity to join the cast once again. “This is my third time working with him,” she shared. “It was an opportunity to stretch. I’d never been directed by Carl Payne before, and the chance to work with talent I admire—Jill, Claudia, Chico—it was a no-brainer.”
Claudia Jordan joked that she originally saw the role as just another check. “I didn’t take it that seriously at first,” she admitted. “But this is my first full-on tour—and now I’ve got a whole new respect for how hard people work in theater. This ain’t easy.”
Modern Love, Stage Left
The play doesn’t hold back when it comes to the messier parts of love. One jaw-dropping moment comes when a live podcast proposal flips into a prenup bombshell—leaving the audience (and the characters) gasping.
Demetria broke it down with honesty. “People don’t ask the real questions when they date. Like, ‘Do you want kids? How do you feel about money?’ These convos aren’t happening, and then everyone’s confused. That moment in the play—it’s real. That happens all the time.”
Jill chimed in, noting how the play speaks to emotional disconnect. “We’re giving each other different tokens of love. Men might offer security and money. Women, we’re giving our hearts. But there’s a disconnect—and that’s where things fall apart.”
And then Claudia, of course, took it all the way there. “These men don’t even want to sign our prenups now!” she laughed. “They want to live the soft life, too. Wearing units, gloss, getting their brows done. We can’t have nothing! Y’all want to be like us? Then get a damn period and go through menopause.”
Dating Over 40: “You Better Come Correct”
When the conversation turned to real-life relationships, all three women lit up. Their experiences dating in their 40s and 50s have given them both clarity—and zero tolerance for games.
“I feel sexier than I’ve ever felt,” said Jill, who proudly turned 50 in January. “I say what I want. I mean what I say. I’m inside my woman, and I’m not apologizing for it.”
Demetria added that dating now comes with deeper self-awareness. “Anybody in my life is there because I want them there. I’ve worked hard to need nobody. But I’m open to love—as long as you keep doing what got me there in the first place.”
For Claudia, the bar is high—and the peace is priceless. “I’ve worked hard for my peace,” she said. “I’m not dating for food. I’m dating because I want to spend time with you. And honestly, if being with you isn’t better than being alone with my candles and fountains and cats? Then no thanks.”
Channeling Strength & Icon Status
Each actress brings something different to the play—but all of them deliver.
“I actually wish I could be messier on stage,” Claudia joked. “But I think about my grandmother—she was born in 1929, couldn’t even vote or buy a house without a man, and didn’t give a damn. She was fearless. That’s where my strength comes from.”
For Jill, the comparisons to her iconic Girlfriends character Toni Childs aren’t far off—but this role gave her a chance to dig deeper. “If you really understood Toni, you’d see how layered she was. And Paisley is the same—misunderstood, but strong. There’s more to her than people see at first glance.”
Demetria, who juggles singing and acting seamlessly, shared that live theater pushes her in a new way. “Every moment on stage counts. You can’t redo anything. It’s a different kind of love and discipline. You have to give the performance away—live, in the moment—and trust that it lands.”
Laughter, Lessons & Black Girl Gems
The show has plenty of laugh-out-loud moments—and the cast isn’t shy about who steals scenes.
“Chico Bean gets a lot of gasps and laughs,” Claudia said. “And Naomi Booker? Every scene she’s in—she’s hilarious.”
But the play isn’t just about humor. It leaves space for reflection—especially for Black women.
“I hope we get back to the foundation of love and communication,” said Demetria. “A lot of us are in protector mode. But that’s turned into survival mode. We’ve lost softness. We’ve lost connection.”
Claudia agreed. “We’re doing it all—but it’s not because we want to be strong all the time. It’s because we have to be. And I just want women to know: You can have peace, you can be soft. But stop bringing your old pain into new love. Don’t let past heartbreak build walls so high that the right person can’t climb over.”
Final Act: Pack the House
If there’s one thing this cast agrees on, it’s that this play isn’t just entertainment—it’s necessary.
“Atlanta is the Black entertainment hub,” Claudia said. “We need y’all to show up for this play. Support the arts. Support each other. Because when we pack the house, we make space for more stories like this.”
Games Women Play is more than a play—it’s a mirror. You’ll see yourself, your friends, your exes, and maybe even your next chapter. So get ready to laugh, reflect, and maybe even heal—because the games are on.
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Sterling K. Brown & Ryan Michelle Bathe Relationship Timeline
Sterling K. Brown and Ryan Michelle Bathe are one of our favorite Hollywood couples. We can't get over their adorable moments together on the red carpet and on social media. While they're both from St. Louis, they didn't meet until college, which they both attended Stanford. And the rest is as they say, history. Read below as we dive into their decades-long relationship.
Mid to Late1990s: Sterling K. Brown & Ryan Michelle Bathe Meet
Sterling and Ryan met as freshmen at Stanford University. "We were in the same dorm freshman year...that's kind of how we met," Ryan said in an interview with ET. "I was mesmerized," she said after watching him audition for the school play, Joe Turner's Come and Gone. Sterling revealed that The First Wives Club star was dating someone else, so they started off as friends.
"She got cast in the play as well, and we would ride bikes to rehearsal, and we would just talk. We found out that we were both from St. Louis. We didn't know that we were both from St. Louis, like, our parents went to rival high schools. We were born in the same hospital. Like, we were friends," he said.
The first few years of their relationship involved many breakups and makeups. However, they ended up graduating and attended NYU's Tisch Grad Acting Program together.
Early 2000s: Sterling K. Brown Tells Ryan Michelle Bathe She's 'The Love Of My Life'
The Paradise star opened up about telling Ryan that she was the one. "We broke up for three and a half years before we came back into each other's lives," he said. "She was on the treadmill working out, and I had this epiphany, 'I have to go tell this woman she's the love of my life.'"
"I go to her apartment, I tell her, and she's like, 'Well, I'm working out right now,' and I was like, 'No, I can see that—I'll just talk to you while you're on the treadmill,' and she's like, 'Well, I feel like going outside. So I'm gonna go on a run,'" he continued. "So I'm like dressed [in a suit], and she starts running through Koreatown, and I start running along with her. Brother had to work, but it was well worthwhile."
2006: Sterling K. Brown & Ryan Michelle Bathe Tie The Knot
The St. Louis natives eloped in 2006 and a year later held a larger ceremony. According to the bride, the best part of their wedding was the food. "The best thing about it was the food," she told ET.
"Can I just say, sometimes you go to weddings, and you get the winner-winner chicken dinner and you're like, 'I pay. OK, it's fine.' But I wanted people to remember their experience -- their culinary experience. So I was happy about that. The food was good."
2011: Sterling K. Brown & Ryan Michelle Bathe Welcome Their First Child
In 2011, Sterling and The Endgame actress welcomed their first son, Andrew. In a 2017 tweet, Sterling revealed they had a home birth. "An unexpected home delivery is something my wife and I went through ourselves with our first born, so this was round 2 for me!" he wrote while referring to a scene involving his character Randall, in This Is Us.
2012: Sterling K. Brown & Ryan Michelle Bathe Appear On-screen Together
A year later, the couple acted together on the Lifetime series Army Wives.
2015: Sterling K. Brown & Ryan Michelle Bathe Welcome Their Second Child
In 2015, Sterling and Ryan welcomed another son, Amaré. Sterling shared an Instagram post about their latest addition to the family. "1st post. 2nd child. All good! #imoninstagram," the Atlas star wrote.
2016: Ryan Michelle Bathe Joins Sterling K. Brown On 'This Is Us'
Ryan guest appears on her hubby's show, This Is Us.
Sterling K. Brown Reveals Ryan Michelle Bathe's Mother Didn't Like Him At First
During their sit-down interview for the Black Love series, Sterling revealed that Ryan's mother wasn't a fan of him, which caused friction in their relationship.
2024: Sterling K. Brown & Ryan Michelle Bathe Explain How Jennifer Lopez Once Broke Them Up
While visiting The Jennifer Hudson Show, Sterling and Ryan share their hilarious Jennifer Lopez break-up story. "We had just gone out, we were living in New York City, we were in grad school, and we had gone to see a Broadway play and we came back to my place and my roommate was playing the ["Love Don't Cost A Thing"] video on MTV," Sterling said.
"Now I'm a fan of Jennifer Lopez's dancing, and I was watching the video and I knew my young...21, 22-year-old girlfriend was looking at me watch the video. And I know I'm not supposed to have a reaction. In trying NOT to have a reaction, what had happened was, my eyes began to water."
Ryan jumped in, "Otherwise known as, TEARS! I turn around and my boyfriend is weeping, tears like big fat [tears]. And I'm looking and she's just a shakin' and a shimming, and he's just crying. I said 'Oh no, I got to go.' "
2024: Sterling K. Brown & Ryan Michelle Bathe Launch Their Podcast, We Don't Always Agree
The couple launched their podcast, We Don't Always Agree, where they disclose more intimate details about their love story.
Feature image by Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock