Food Trends To Try This Fall
Since we have to start looking forward to fall quickly approaching, you are probably wondering which food trends are on the horizon. There is always the next big thing lurking around the corner, here are some food trends we think you’ll be dying to try ASAP.
Healthy Cocktails
Although cocktails aren’t what you were expecting with food trends, alcoholic drinks are essentially a part of the food pyramid at this point. Healthy cocktails that won’t leave you with a nasty hangover but are also delicious and aren’t just vodka with club soda and lime will be super helpful to have under your belt. Hard kombucha is up in popularity by 300% according to FoodNetwork, which is a sure sign that drinks like kombucha and seltzer are only rising in popularity. Everyone loves a good White Claw here and there, but the flavors can become a bit redundant at one point. Aperol spritzes are also making an unexpected comeback with the food trends this fall because they are equally delicious and relatively low cal. So expect drinks featuring homemade craft cocktails to spike in popularity in the near future, and thank me later.
Hemp
Get your head out of the gutter, I’m not talking about drugs. Hemp is a great soy alternative that coincidentally is associated with products such as CBD, but also is found in beauty products as well. Since this product does it all, it is now being incorporated into one of the biggest food trends rising right now. Hemp is a plant protein that can be extremely beneficial to those who are keto, paleo, or vegan. Hemp hearts are often added to smoothies or acai bowls to give a person extra protein and an added boost with little caloric effect. Many people have struggled to find something that gives them protein that isn’t an animal product, so this is bound to be one of the food trends that are here to stay because they are completely cruelty-free. With plant-based diets rising in popularity each year, expect to see hemp on the menu.
Regional Foods
Since the pandemic brought people closer to their heritage and homeland than ever, it is no shock that regional foods such as Hunan-style are rising in popularity. A sense of pride in your culture or your roots has only grown with the pandemic, so instead of just restaurants that offer “Chinese,” you can expect to see more regionally-specific cuisines to pop up. For example, you will probably see food trends such as Cantonese or Szechuan as opposed to a blanket Chinese restaurant. Having a more specific restaurant catered to certain tastes curated in a region will give you a more authentic flavor and are bound to be super delicious. People are going to start bringing in their flavors of home as opposed to a place that does not necessarily specialize in any region of food.
Tacos
Obviously, tacos are a staple food for many, but have we really elevated our tacos? People and restaurants are realizing that tacos don’t just have to be chicken or beef, lettuce, and cheese. You can truly spice up tacos in any sort of way and they will be amazing. You can also pack a ton of healthy veggies and other food items that you love into a taco for minimal carb and calorie counts. The other good part about tacos is that, since they are relatively small, there is an opportunity for variety with minimal guilt. Tacos are one of the food trends that look different every season but do not count them out. People have gotten much more creative during the pandemic, and apps like TikTok allow for people to start sharing their ideas and recipes that open your eyes to a whole new palette.
Healthy Quick Meals
Another one of the food trends we can thank the pandemic for. Since people got creative making healthy meals at home and are realizing that you don’t have to pay copious amounts just for a meal that isn’t loaded with salt and processed items, the rise of healthy fast food is coming in hot. Frozen meals like pizza with cauliflower crust have also become much more popular. Eating unhealthy meals out used to be a treat, but with the pandemic making takeout so much more accessible and necessary, people began to tire of it. People also tired quickly of paying high amounts and not being able to access healthier meals, so naturally fast healthy food became a point of interest. Expect to see many more healthy options popping up here and there because people are realizing that you don’t need to overcharge to feed your body.
Ramen
While many people read ramen and think $0.99 packages of chicken broth with noodles, there are actually tons of ramen options that are delicious and a full meal. Traditional ramen restaurants include a variety of ingredients that are not just broth and noodles and are super delicious. With regional flavors coming back into America, and the desire for comfort food that doesn’t feel too heavy, expect to see ramen as one of the newest food trends. If you’re looking for something to start with at home, head to an Asian supermarket and pick up a package of Black Shin noodles. It’s a great intro to what real Asian ramen is, a vegetarian option with shallots, mushrooms and veggies, and lots of spice to get your palette going. It’s a food trend you didn’t know you needed and is super simple to make.
Meal Kits
Another one of the food trends inspired by the pandemic lifestyle are meal kits. These are perfect for anyone really who doesn’t want to figure out what to make for dinner that night or wants to change up their recipe repertoire without having to search for a recipe and ingredients. They are also perfect food trends for college students who don’t necessarily know how to cook a full, nutritious meal on their own. The places send the ingredients to your doorstep, so you don’t have to leave the house, and have exact measurements to ensure you don’t need to do any extra thinking. The best part is that these meals are creative and fun, so you won’t have to worry they are sending you chicken fingers (but wouldn’t that be nice as well?)
