What food fads and trends should you be serving up this year? Consider these ten food fads when you’re making up the menu for your meeting:
1. Healthy eating. Eating “clean” has become more important to many who see the health benefits of vegetarian and even vegan diets. That’s why meals featuring plant-based entrees and side dishes as options to traditional meat items are gaining in popularity. Look for foods like walnut burgers, plant-based shrimp, and even vegan cheese to add to your menu.
2. Comfort foods. When times seem uncertain, folks tend to gravitate toward those things that are recognizable rather than revolutionary — comfort foods. These are the dishes and authentic flavors many associate with comforting memories from when they were kids, e.g., meatloaf, mashed potatoes, pasta, cream soups, or casseroles that mom or grandma used to make. Of course, many of these are now made with alternative ingredients like sweet potatoes, cauliflower, grass-fed beef, and free-range poultry, so they’re both delicious and nutritious.
3. Slow food. The slow food movement began in Italy in 1986, living up to its name by taking its sweet time getting here. It’s an alternative to fast food, with an emphasis on sustainability, locally grown, organic, and wholesome foods. In other words, simple, healthy menus that are good for people and the planet. Americans waste 133 billion pounds of food each year. The Slow Food movement has resulted in retailers and restaurants pledging to donate food and drink, that might otherwise be discarded, to charitable organizations. The Slow Food Movement has also brought about the repurposing of food byproducts into new foods products. For example, bars made from the spent grain leftover from brewing beer.
4. Globally-themed menus. Menus that feature Thai, Indian, or Asian cuisine are increasingly in demand. Here authenticity is the key. Dishes that are “Americanized” (tamer, less palatable versions) are no longer acceptable. If you’re going international, go genuine.
5. Bite size. The availability of smaller portions results in a healthier and more cost-effective alternative to traditional food service. Variations on Tapas (small portions of Spanish cuisine) or an antipasto bar (selections of traditional first course of an Italian meal) mean less food waste and more abundant choices.
6. Food trucks. Yup, they’re still around … and more popular than ever. From traditional menus of burgers and dogs to foodie items like gourmet tacos, upscale crab cakes, or homemade soups, food trucks save money over a traditional caterer while offering fun, portable foods, and a great opportunity for a break from a meeting.
7. Reality TV. Food network competitions like Top Chef and Chopped have become wildly popular and entertaining. Taking a bite out of that enthusiasm and creating some team building outings with cooking classes, cooking demos, and food and beverage tastings have become a fashionable way for teams to interact.
8. Hot, hot, hot. From the Nashville hot chicken craze, to dishes made with Hot Cheetos as a secret ingredient, to spicy ramen challenges, this trend doesn’t appear to be cooling off any time soon.
9. A little green. Kale, that infamous superfood that was popping up everywhere the past few years, is being edged out by other greens with bolder flavors, such as dandelion greens, Swiss chard, and carrot tops.
10. Gluten-free. With food allergies and sensitivities on the rise, gluten-free legume pastas (which are higher in protein) are replacing grain pastas for dishes that are kinder to the tummy.
