2016 was a big year for food: Remember the rainbow bagels? Yeah we’d rather not either. But as 2017 draws closer, let’s take a look ahead at all the weird, delicious and downright unique food trends we’ll all be munching on in the New Year.
Flickr user Steven Jackson Photography
1. Turmeric
While turmeric itself isn’t exactly new, the focus on it is predicted to explode next year. The spice not only adds great flavor, but it also has serious health benefits. Don’t be surprised if you start seeing it crop up everywhere, if you haven’t already.
2. More restaurant-to home delivery
This trend won’t die. Even though it seems like there’s a new direct-to-home food delivery business every day, they’re predicted to keep going next year and keep spreading across the world.
3. Meat that isn’t meat but looks like meat
We don’t even bat an eye anymore about people who don’t eat meat, and the number of people who don’t eat any animal products are growing each year. But there’s something that vegan and vegetarian sometimes miss about the look and texture of meat, and so restaurants are starting to style their vegan and vegetarian meat substitutes to actually look like meat - for example, adding beet juice into the mix to look like blood. Yup.
4. Using ALL of the vegetable
Think about it: when you use vegetables, there are parts of it that you usually throw away, right? Stems, leaves, etc. The stuff that doesn’t go in the recipe. In 2017 expect to see restaurants and chefs finding ways to get ALL of those pieces into the food so less gets thrown away.
5. Weird milkshakes
Milkshakes aren’t uncommon, but it seems like people aren’t satisfied with the simple ice cream and milk combinations anymore. There are already restaurants out there that offer crazy twists on milkshakes (like topping them with actual slices of CAKE), but expect that trend to take off even more in 2017.
6. Coconut everything
Using coconut substitutes isn’t new, but according to Whole Foods you’ll see coconut get swapped in for other ingredients more than ever in 2017. Look for it in tortillas, spreads (instead of butter) and even in beauty products.
7. Complicated condiments
Mustard just isn’t cutting the mustard anymore.
Okay first just think about that pun for a second. Amazing.
Get ready to see condiments take an even crazier turn in 2017. Whole Foods predicts that unusual items like black sesame tahini and habanero jam will become more and more commonplace.
What other food trends are you looking forward to in 2016? Tell us in the comments!
