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| Top Food Trends for 2019 |
2019 begins, a year that promises new and interesting trends in the food and beverage industry, driven by technological innovations and the consumers growing demand for new flavor experiences, greater transparency, and healthier products. While last year was all about unicorn food, glitter lattes and broccoli coffee, this year, non-dairy ice cream, plant-based proteins, Asian spices & cuisines are expected to be huge. The food experts opine that in 2019 will stand out the simple and natural ingredients made with unprocessed and real products.
In view of the emerging health food fad, we foresee the following diet & nutrition trends to be trendsetters in the months & years to come:
Organic foods
People have grown extremely health conscious and realized the benefits of eating natural food, especially organic, non-processed and genetically modified food. The focus is now on fresh, seasonal and local produce.
Plant-based proteins
The vegan food trend has not seen a momentum as it has in the recent 2- 3 years, it will only get bigger in 2019. Consumers have become more self-aware and demand transparency in everything they consume, be it GMO status, animal welfare or injected/added hormones.
In point of fact, the demand for the protein of all types will continue to surge as the connection with a healthy weight, better body shape, and general wellness continues to build in consumers’ minds.
More Vegetables in 2019
As interest in health and well-being grows, more people are seeking to reduce the consumption of meat and animal products or abandon it altogether, to become vegetarians.
Thanks to technology, consumers this year will be able to enjoy all year round, fresh fruits & vegetables that usually could only be purchased during harvest season. Cauliflower will come out of salads and will have a greater presence as an ingredient in foods such as cauliflower-based pizzas, rice, and even cookies.
Tahini flavor to reign
Tahini, a major ingredient in foods like hummus and baba ghanoush is made from ground hulled sesame seeds that have been used for thousands of years in the Middle East and parts of the Mediterranean.
With the emerging switch from conventional to plant-based foods, people are now exploring the umami flavors yearning for the plant-based snacking including tahini, hummus & alike. A good fat and incredibly versatile additive for sweet and savory dishes, tahini seems to reign with the recent eating trends.
Oat Milk – The Next milk Alternative
2019 is going to be another banner year for the health-conscious. Oat milk produced by soaking oats in water is one of such healthy and sustainable items currently catching fire. This creamy & clean labeled drink which is not essentially milk is going mainstream as a dairy alternative in coffee & other hot beverages.
Asian Food & Spices will be in high demand
Asian cuisines remain hot at the restaurant level, along with Middle Eastern food. One spice gaining in popularity is Za’atar, a blend of thyme, oregano, sumac, ground sesame seeds, and salt. It’s turning up on mainstream menus, as well as on the grocery store shelf.
More Paleo, Keto, & Low carb foods
A paleo diet including lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds is expected to gain momentum in 2019. There will also be an influx of low or no-carbohydrate options in the fast-casual sphere in response to the popularity of high-fat, low-carb eating plans such as the ketogenic diet, more commonly known as "keto”. According to the U.S. News & World Report, the biggest fad that’s riding its wave of popularity right into 2019 is the Ketogenic, or “Keto,” diet.
Alternative fats are here to stay
With keto, paleo, and grain-free diets continuing to gain popularity, the demand for dairy-, animal-, and grain-free healthy fat sources has continued to rise. As per the insights of the speciality grocery chain, Whole Foods, alternative fat sources will start to boom in 2019, especially MCT oil (a type of oil extracted from coconut oil), coconut butter, sesame oil and lots of and lots of ghee, a kind of clarified butter that has been used in Southeast Asian cooking and Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years.
Probiotics will start popping up
Probiotics are live microorganisms that have health benefits when consumed. While probiotics, the good bacteria found in fermented foods like yogurt and kimchi, have commanded attention over the last several years, prebiotics are likely to start getting some of the spotlights in 2019. We’ll likely be seeing more drinks, bars and other ready-to-eat snack items touting a prebiotic punch of barley, garlic, oats, apples in 2019.
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