The weather’s getting colder, the holidays are drawing near and it’s basically our favorite time of year. Not because of all the family merriment, bonding and good cheer (though that stuff’s all great too) — but because it’s finally time to find out about what food trends we can look forward to in the coming year.
Whole Foods, the Specialty Foods Association and AF&Co have all released their trend forecasts for 2018, and there’s a lot to get excited about. Some of what we can see in the coming year builds off 2017’s hot trends — seltzer has started a sparkling beverage craze, and the popularity of Trader Joe’s canned wines has vintner’s eschewing glass bottles in favor of innovative new packaging. But we’re even more excited to see new foods and flavors from around the world on our plates and to discover new ways to boost our health with superfoods like maca and reishi.
Check out all the foods and food trends we predict will be huge in 2018.
Puffed & popped snacks
Beyond cheese puffs and popcorn, crunchy snacks of all sorts are getting a makeover. From peanut puffs to popped sorghum, look for these new munchies in the coming year.
Superfood powders
Maca, matcha, acai — these superfood powders will be finding their way into your smoothies, juices, dressings and more all year.
No-waste cooking
No-waste cooking will see a jump this year as cooks become more conscious of the environmental impact of their eating habits. In 2018, we’ll all be turning veggie scraps into stock, making pesto from carrot tops and using juicer pulp to enrich baked goods.
Florals in food
From lavender shortbread to chamomile sparkling water and back again, floral flavors will be invading our foods in the tastiest ways possible.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms are bigger than ever, but not just sautéed with butter and garlic. Powdered “functional” mushrooms, like chaga and reishi, are supposedly chock-full of holistic medicinal benefits and are popping up in everything from coffee to chocolate.
Sparkling beverages
LaCroix opened the floodgates. New sparkling beverages will be hitting markets, from fizzy cold brew to carbonated maple water. What a time to be alive!
Nostalgic foods reimagined
Everything old is new again. Craveable comfort foods are back, but with a twist — look for spicy gochujang deviled eggs, pasture-raised meatloaf and creamy vegan casseroles.
Middle Eastern flavors
We already love many Middle Eastern foods (um, hello hummus!), but we’ll be digging even deeper into the cuisine of this region in 2018. Look for ingredients like za’atar, pomegranate molasses, sumac and rosewater on restaurant menus and recipe blogs.
Filipino flavors
As mainstream American palates expand, it might finally be time for Filipino food to get its moment in the spotlight. Some entry point foods you can expect to see more of? Crispy lumpia, stir-fried pancit and savory, vinegary chicken adobo.
Rainbow foods
This one isn’t particularly new, but we don’t anticipate it dying down anytime soon. The rainbow food trend is popular for a reason, and we’re probably only going to see more of it in the coming year. Look for items that are naturally colored with different fruits and veggies, adding an extra nutritional boost.
Sustainability & transparency
Customers are increasingly concerned with where their food is coming from. Whether it means making sure seafood purchases are sustainable, meat is pasture-raised and produce is non-GMO, expect labels to start getting even more explicit about where your food is coming from.
Regional international cuisines
People will be exploring international cuisines in more depth. Instead of “Chinese” food, expect to hear more about the differences between Hunan, Szechuan and Fujian cuisine and get excited to explore Mexican specialties from Oaxaca, Jalisco, Yucatán and Zacatecas.
Bread is back
Gluten-free eating is winding down as new research has shown that avoiding gluten when you don’t have Celiac disease can actually be harmful to your health. As a result, delicious traditional breads are making a huge comeback. You can expect to see high-quality breads infiltrating your local supermarket and even fast food menus.
New ways to serve wine
Canned wines were huge in 2017, and we’ll see even more innovative wine packaging in 2018. From wine in a bag (adult Capri Sun!) to wine juice boxes and beyond, this is a trend we can definitely get behind.
Plant-based food
Almond milk is so last year. In 2018, look for new food innovations, like plant milks made from pea protein and bananas, faux-meat products that actually bleed and cultured nut cheeses that taste like the real thing.
Unique tacos
According to Whole Foods, tacos are coming out of their shell (and they’re doing just fine). Look for new ways to wrap your tacos and new fillings (dessert tacos, anyone?) that’ll make you want Taco Tuesday to be every day.
Charcoal
Activated charcoal, hailed for its detoxing benefits, will be in more foods in 2018. From black lattes to obsidian loaves of ciabatta, your favorite foods are about to get a goth makeover.
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