2020 was… how should we say, an unusual year.
But while everyone was stuck at home, food trends spread like wildfire.
Because when there’s nothing else to do, why not try a wacky recipe to pass the time?
So here are 10 Food Trends That Will Take Over 2021.
Ghost Kitchens
Much to our dismay, ghost kitchens aren not haunted kitchens.
So while they’re not as cool as they sound, they are extremely necessary and innovative,
especially in our current situation.
It goes by many names - delivery-only restaurant, online-only restaurant, delivery kitchen,
virtual kitchen, shadow kitchen, commissary kitchen, dark kitchen, ghost line, or cloud
kitchen - but the idea is the same.
A ghost kitchen is a professional food preparation and cooking facility set up for the preparation
of delivery-only meals.
These places have cooking facilities, chefs, and a huge range of recipes.
The range is so huge, in fact, that they often feature food from more than one brand or chain.
The catch?
There’s nowhere for customers to sit, order, or eat.
For customers to order, they have to use apps like UberEats or GrubHub.
Because these kitchens are so versatile, customers can often get a combination of different brands
in one order.
In our current situation, these places definitely have a leg-up over more traditional dine-in
restaurants.
Not only are they cheap and easy to set up, but they’re also low-risk, with fewer overhead
costs, permits, inspections, and rent payments for entrepreneurs to worry about.
Considering the number of independent businesses that have had to shut down due to the pandemic,
there’s a good chance some places might be taking the idea of ghost kitchens and turning
it into an advantage!
Meal Kits
By now, everyone’s heard of meal kits like HelloFresh or Chef’s Plate.
During the pandemic, meal kits have been essential in making sure that people are getting food
without taking any unnecessary risks.
The concept is simple: you either get a subscription or order a one-off box, and it’s delivered
to your door.
Inside, you’ll find the ingredients you need for a particular meal (often pre-prepped),
and all you need to do is cook it.
Not only is it good during a pandemic, but it also helps diminish food waste and save
time in the kitchen.
Undoubtedly, meal kits will continue to grow in popularity.
According to the VP of marketing for the meal-kit service Home Chef, sales have increased materially
since the start of the pandemic and have remained high week after week.
They have had greater sales both from existing customers as well as new customers, and people
continued to buy more meals per delivery and order more often.
Companies such as HelloFresh have seen their revenues increase by upwards of 50 percent
in 2020 and are continuing to pour money into technology, infrastructure, and marketing.
While we can never know for sure if something will stick around in the future, it looks
like meal-kits are definitely growing in popularity and will become more common over the course
of the next year.
Upcycled Foods
Did you know that up to 40% of food is wasted?
This can be a shocking number, but it’s not really surprising when you think about
it.
All the things that you forgot about in the back of the fridge, all the stems and peels
that were thrown into the compost without a second’s hesitation, and even just the
bits you didn’t want to eat.
People have slowly been recognizing that this is an issue, not only for humans but for our
planet.
Luckily, there are companies who are now specializing in making food out of all the stuff we throw
away.
The term “upcycled food” was first defined by the Upcycled Food Association.The definition
states that upcycled food is the use of ingredients that otherwise would not have gone to human
consumption, are procured and produced using verifiable supply chains, and have a positive
impact on the environment.
In other words, it’s a way that we can fight food waste and stay sustainable at the same
time.
As of right now, there aren’t a ton of products that are readily available for everyday consumers,
but there will be in the near future, so keep your eyes peeled for apricot pulp chips!
KomBOOZcha
People have been raving about kombucha for years, and you’ve probably seen it pop up
on your Instagram feed more than a few times.
It’s hailed for its health benefits, though there has been some controversy as to whether
or not it’s actually good for you.
In any case though, it looks like kombucha is going to be hitting 2021 hard.
How?
With alcoholic kombucha, of course!
Kombucha has always had alcohol content due to it being fermented, but you could never
actually get drunk off of it.
Now, though, you totally can.
According to Kombucha Brewers International, sales of hard kombucha grew from $1.7 million
dollars in 2017 to more than $12 million dollars in 2019.
A number of companies then saw their successes increase even further, with JuneShine Hard
Kombucha having been on track to triple its sales and AfterGlow Hard Kombucha expanding
nationwide.
Overall, it looks like it’s been a good few years for the boozy kombucha, and that
good fortune shows no sign of stopping.
Here’s to improving immune systems and having fun!
Just remember - drink that Kombucha responsibly.
Plant-Based Meat
It’s now been three years since the release of the Beyond Meat Burger, and the trend of
meat-free meat has only been going up.
In a study done in 2019, it was suggested that, by 2040, 60% of all meat consumed would
either be grown in vats or be replaced by plant-based products that look and taste like
meat.
This is a bold statement for sure, but it definitely holds some truth.
There has been a huge rise in the popularity of plant-based meats and proteins over the
past few years.
And then, thanks to the pandemic affecting meat production, the popularity of meat-free
meat products rose.
Sales increased by 264% over March and April in U.S. grocery stores.
The industry is making new innovations and putting out fresh products, too, with many
companies, such as Impossible Burger and Beyond Meat, solidifying their leading positions
in the market.
Overall, the popularity of plant-based meat seems to be rising at an extremely fast pace.
According to one outlet, the forecast growth of meat alternatives is projected to reach
$480 billion dollars by 2024.
A "renewed focus on taste and texture," and new plant-based foods such as fish, cheese,
milk, and chicken will all help the meatless meat market meet those expectations.
Plant Jerky
You heard it right: plant-jerky is here, and it’s here to stay.
A number of food startups have been experimenting with preserving mushrooms, soybeans, and other
plants as jerky for quick and delicious nourishment.
One of these startups is Leaf Jerky, which is making soy jerky based out of Michigan.
The company cites sustainability as a central focus of its brand.
Apart from just using plant-based ingredients over resource-intensive meat, its packaging
is recycled.
It’s little wonder that soy is such a popular jerky base because chefs and food scientists
literally have centuries of cooking practice to use for inspiration in making a snack that’s
not only nutritious but tastes savory and meaty enough to impress even the most carnivorous
of consumers.
If you’re not a fan of soy, don’t worry.
Another company - Upton’s Naturals - is a vegan brand known primarily for its seitan
and jackfruit meats.
Now, they’re launching their own jerky, not made out of soy, but out of wheat proteins.
Another alternative is mushrooms, which famously have a strong and sometimes meat-like texture
with earthy flavors that make them an excellent base for jerky.
Pan’s Mushroom Jerky is one brand that has caught on to this, supposedly inspired by
founder Michael Pan’s Malaysian relative's vegetarian family recipes.
So, whether you’re a meat-lover or a plant-lover, a soy-lover or a soy-hater, know that there’s
always going to be a jerky option that works for you.
Copaiba Oil
Essential oils have been steadily growing in popularity, and copaiba is just another
example of that.
Copaiba is an essential oil derived from the resin of the copaiba tree, which can grow
upwards of 100 feet and can be found in tropical South America.
Copaiba is widely used in cosmetic products, including soaps, creams, lotions, and perfumes.
While it may sound new, Copaiba has been around since at least the 16th century.
It was utilized in traditional health practices by the native people of the north and northeastern
Brazil.
It’s said to have a spicy or woodsy smell, and it comes with a load of health benefits.
Not only can it help soothe anxiety or give you a clearer complexion, but it can also
support the health of the cardiovascular, immune, digestive, and nervous systems.
It also helps support a healthy inflammatory response.
Copaiba essential oil can also be added directly to the mouth to cleanse and soothe the gums
and oral cavity.
What makes this oil so special?
Well, it shares a lot of properties with cannabidiol, also known as CBD.
According to the Director of Education and Training at doTERRA, when used daily, Copaiba
helps you live a longer and healthier life with greater periods of homeostasis.
Plus, it’s 100% legal, meaning that this could be a huge competitor for CBD in food
and beverages.
Other reasons that make it a good competitor include the fact that it’s way less expensive,
and there's no risk of finding trace amounts of THC in the oil (if that is, indeed, a risk
to you).
Copaiba oil isn't known to have any side effects either, and it will have no impact on any
drug test.
The New Oil
For a long time, olive oil was the go-to oil.
But it looks like olive oil is swiftly falling out of “flavor”, only to be replaced with
a slew of alternatives.
Why are people reaching for things other than olive oil?
Well, one study showed that there’s been a rise in walnut and pumpkin seed oils, which
are said to infuse your dish with a nuttier flavor.
These oils enhance the taste of food, and they come with their own set of health benefits:
walnut seed oil is good for your skin, helps lower blood pressure, improves cholesterol
levels, and may even have anti-cancer effects.
Pumpkin seed oil, on the other hand, can have a positive effect on your skin, heart, prostate,
is said to ward off depression and may even relieve some of the symptoms of menopause.
If you’re not ready to make such a drastic change in your cooking, don’t worry; olive
oil isn’t going anywhere.
It is still extremely popular among healthy-eaters because of two of its components: elenolide
and tyrosol.
Elenolide has anti-hypertensive and anti-inflammatory properties, and tyrosol protects against neurodegenerative
diseases.
Whether you go traditional or with an alternative, there are plenty of benefits to both!
Gut-Friendly Drinks
Your gut is an incredibly complex part of your body, and it has a huge impact on your
overall health.
While it may sound new, the idea of a healthy gut is one that’s quickly grabbing the attention
of people worldwide.
Customer awareness of the gut microbiome (and how to keep it healthy) has hugely increased
this past year, mostly due to the pandemic.
People were looking for new ways to stay healthy, and, well, gut health is definitely one of
them.
Findings from ADM's consumer insights platform suggest the gut is a gateway to wellness and
that awareness of this topic counts as one of the significant behavioral and societal
changes that have taken place during the pandemic.
The company also states that consumers are gravitating towards food and beverages with
bright and exciting colors that indicate citrus flavors.
Going into 2021, the company says that gut microbiome's role in weight, mental health,
and immunity will become a global trend.
New-And-Improved Baby Food
Baby food is an essential part of any parent’s shopping list and an essential part of growing
up.
Baby food is any soft, easily consumed food other than breast milk or infant formula that
is made specifically for babies up to two years old.
Not only does it provide the essential vitamins and nutrition that an infant needs to grow
healthily, but it also soothes the parents.
They know that their child is being given the proper food to grow up to be strong.
During the pandemic, many people sought different ways to get healthy, and that includes parents.
From beef to carrots, baby food can come in many different flavors.
Nowadays, thanks to culinary innovation, parents have a huge range of ingredients to choose
from.
You may be shocked to find that baby food has become much more portable, too.
These on-the-go squeeze pouches can be full of rhubarb, rosemary, purple carrots, and
omega-3-rich flax seeds.
Who knew that someone so small would demand such big flavors?
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