Whole Foods have predicted the top 10 food trends that we are likely to see in 2017.
It looks like we can all expect to see things turn a bit purple!
Coconut Foods
One of the big new trends will be different kinds of coconut products. Forget water and oil – this year will be the domain of coconut flower, sugar, and crisps. Whether they are a lasting trend or not remains to be seen! If you have a new product development job, you might want to start thinking about new ways to incorporate coconut into your ranges, and fast. The generic options won’t be enough to fulfil this year’s trends.
Exotic Condiments
Creative condiments will be replacing boring old ketchup and mayonnaise this year. Instead we will be trying out habanero jam, pomegranate molasses, and black garlic puree, amongst other exotic sauces. This is a trend which largely kicked off in restaurants across London and other large cities in the UK during 2016. If you have a chef role you probably already know all about it!
Flexitarian Diets
If the word sounds made it, that’s because it is. This trend is all about following diets, but not religiously. You might only eat carbs on a Saturday, but also do a juice cleanse every Wednesday, but also eat vegan three days a week. How many diets can you follow at once? Sounds like a challenge to us. Many people have been doing this for years, but now that there’s an actual word for it, you can expect to see it popping up a lot more often.
Non-wheat Pasta
We already got obsessed with courgetti in 2016, but 2017 will see even more pasta alternatives flooding the market. Think alternative grains like quinoa and lentils. Chickpeas will also be making an appearance. Existing trends such as other forms of vegetable pasta are also likely to continue. It seems we’ve all fallen out of love with gluten.
Japanese Food
No, we’re not talking about sushi. This year will bring a big focus on Japanese food which hasn’t traditionally been big in the West. Savoury breakfast bowls with rice, avocado, and umeboshi plums will be all the rage. Mochi cakes are also going to increase in popularity. Look away from the normal, mainstream Japanese food that you think you know, and go for the options that Japanese people actually eat on a daily basis.
Purple Food
It seems like everything is going purple. We’ve already seen a trend for purple carrots, but now other vegetables are getting in on the act. There will be purple cauliflowers, black rice (which actually looks purple), purple asparagus, elderberries, acai berries, purple sweet potatoes, purple cereal, and purple corn – and purple crisps made from heirloom potatoes. Why purple? Because in nature it often represents a high percentage of antioxidants as well as good nutrient density.
Wellness Tonics
The wellness fad is still in full swing, and 2017 will be the year that we dive into tonics. These beverages will be packed with botanicals, giving you all sorts of health benefits. They will include turmeric, apple cider vinegar, kava, maca, and even medicinal mushrooms. It looks like the year ahead is all about focusing on healthy eating and drinking – even more so than it has been in the past.
Look out for these trends popping up in shops and restaurants near you, as well as popping up on the Instagram feeds of those in the know. Whatever happens, it looks like it’s going to be a very colourful year on plates across the country!
