As we welcome a new decade, there are many exciting trends in the food world to look out for—and we’re talking about more than kale everything and avocado toast. Check out these eight food trends that are on our radar for 2020:
Trend No. 1: More alternatives to refined sugar
In response to America’s addiction to sugar, which is linked to health problems such as obesity, heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes, products made with sugar alternatives are taking center stage—including lighter ice creams, chocolates, and snack bars. Low-calorie sweeteners, such as monk fruit and stevia, will continue to make their way into more products in 2020. Natural sources of sweetening, including dates, coconut sugar, and honey have also been growing in popularity.
Looking for sweet-toothed recipes that skip the refined sugar? Here are a few ideas:
Trend No. 2: Unconventional flours
This next trend makes for interesting baking: flours made from ingredients like tigernut, amaranth, and cauliflower. Typically packing in more fiber, protein, and nutrients than regular flour, unconventional flours made from ancient grains, veggies, or nuts deliver more of a nutritional punch.
Expect to see consumer goods made from unconventional flours as well, such as teff flour in healthier packaged cookies.
Trend No. 3: Low-carb, high-fat products
Low-carb, high-fat diets, such as keto, are growing in popularity and will continue to do so in the coming year. Keto followers believe that by eating high-fat and starving the body of its main energy source, which is glucose from carbs, the body will reach what’s known as ketosis. In a ketogenic phase, the body is thought to break down stored fat as energy, leading to weight loss.
The keto craze focuses on foods like meats, oils, seeds, and dairy. Expect to see more keto-friendly food products on supermarket shelves in 2020—with everything from ghee and nut-and-seed-packed spreads to pancake mixes and desserts.
If you’re feeling inspired to try some keto eats at home, check out these recipes:
Trend No. 4: West African Cuisine
Dishes and food products are increasingly being made with ingredients like peanuts, ginger, and lemongrass, which are standard in the cuisine of the 16 nations of West Africa. Brands are incorporating West African superfoods like antioxidant-rich moringa and tamarind, as well as fiber-packed ancient grains like sorghum and millet.
Products featuring some of these ingredients include Rollin Greens Millet Tots and Canyon Bakehouse Ancient Grain Bread, which includes a medley of millet, chia, amaranth, sorghum, teff, and quinoa. Get in on the trend by making this West African Chicken Stew.
Trend No. 5: More plant-based eating
With Impossible Foods’ Impossible Burger offered at Burger King and Dunkin Donuts introducing the Beyond Sausage breakfast sandwich, 2019 saw plant-based products go mainstream. In 2020, we expect more vegan products to hit the fast food and restaurant markets, not to mention grocery store shelves.
For instance, Upton’s Naturals recently launched its line of Jerky Bites made with wheat seitan in tamarind pepperoni, pineapple pink peppercorn, and tarragon ginger lime flavors.
That said, brands are slowing down on soy, which has traditionally dominated the plant-based protein space. More brands are opting for innovative and sustainable plant-based ingredients including lentils and pea protein.
Trend No. 6: Plant-blended meat
Even meat brands are getting in on the plant-based food trend by adding plant-based ingredients to their meatballs and burgers. Major brands such as Applegate are releasing “blend burgers” made with a combination of beef and mushrooms, touting the benefits of lower fat and cholesterol when compared to that of regular ground beef.
Trend No. 7: Catering to kid foodies
According to Whole Foods, 80 percent of millennials will be parents by 2026, and they’re raising their kids to be adventurous eaters. Food brands like Kidfresh are taking sophisticated younger tastes into consideration and creating healthier, tastier options for the most discerning ketchup-loving palates.
From goat cheese crumbles—think mozzarella sticks’ cultured cousin—to salmon patties (see ya later, chicken nuggets), the options are growing. Get your little foodies involved in the kitchen and make these kid-friendly recipes:
Trend No. 8: Nutritious convenience foods
Food products that are ready to eat and easy to take on-the-go have been around for a while—TV dinners were first introduced way back in the 1950s—but a new trend gaining traction is foods that are not only convenient, but are also good for you.
For instance, Perfect Bar recently launched a line of refrigerated peanut butter cups made with a blend of dried whole food powders from fruits, vegetables, and seeds—along with half the sugar of a Reese’s, to boot. Earnest Eats also came out with the Pro Toasty, a breakfast pastry filled with almond butter, probiotics, and collagen protein.
Even TV dinners have gotten an upgrade, as the freezer and prepared foods sections at grocery stores continues to fill up with heat-and-eat meals featuring whole foods and minimally processed ingredients from companies like Luvo, Kashi, and Dr. Praeger’s.
From recipes and tips on nutritious foods to prepare at home, to the latest food trends and info about the least expensive fruits and veggies around, here at Feeding Westchester, we strive to be a resource for all things healthy eating. Check out our latest Food Dating Guide to learn more about what the various food package dates mean and suggestions for how long it’s safe to consume different food items.
