Fads and trends in general stand as a great testament to our social selves, our need to keep up with the crowd and relate to others. We want what others have, no matter what that may be, and we feel satisfied and accepted once we have it. As food has gradually become a coveted luxury, various 2018 food trends have made their way to the culinary scene. Whether you’re dining in or out, or looking for a new diet plan, food trends are constantly evolving.
2018 Food Trends
Here are some of the most interesting 2018 food trends worth trying:
CBD Infused Food/Drinks
Whether it’s a cup of coffee, your favorite hard candy or your favorite dinner dish, cannabinoid infused foods are the newest way to add a twist to any meal—bakeries are adding a couple milligrams to their chocolate toppings while bars are adding a drop or two to their cocktails. It’s popularity stems from its pungent earthy flavor and calming effects. Cannabis, a derivative of hemp, reduces inflammation, pain and anxiety, and has no traces of THC. Most restaurants that offer a zing of Zen to your favorite menu choices can be found in California, Vermont and Oregon. New York City is also offering many drinks and dishes with the calming ingredient.
Korean Flavors/Gochujang
Korean flavors and spices are known for their savory sweetness that make every meal unforgettable, and Gochujang is no exception. Gochujang, known as the backbone of Korean cooking, adds a sharp kick of flavor to whatever dish you’re making. It’s a red chilli paste, made with fermented soy beans, and a spicy concentrated flavor that’s becoming a staple in everyone’s fridge. Don’t wait to find it buried away on a restaurant menu –– you can buy it at virtually any supermarket and find new ways to cook with it every time you use it. It’s versatility knows no bounds –– pour it as a condiment, a dipping sauce or add it to your soups or stews. The spicy tang also goes a long way as salad dressing, a sandwich spread or as a key ingredient to any meat marinade.
Intermittent Fasting
Studies have shown that intermittent fasting is one way to consume less calories and lose weight –– as long as you do it properly. Follow a set diet plan, and ease into the process, instead of trying to fast for so long all at once. The secret is self control. If you have enough discipline to keep yourself from eating periodically throughout the day, then you have enough discipline to control what you decide to eat. Taking a break from eating also allows for your digestive system time to relax, which can reduce inflammation and provide added health benefits such as an increased metabolism and lower risk of heart disease.
Dinner Parties with Strangers
There is only one rule for these dinner parties –– you won’t know who you’ll be eating with. The organizers behind Stranger Danger Dinners wanted to bring people together in a world where spontaneous connections are growing more rare by the year. By friending their Facebook group, you’ve given yourself to see an invite for a dinner sometime soon. The organizers run background checks on all of their potential guests, and team up with restaurants in the area for a comfortable venue. Dinners start at $65 –– the cost includes meal and meal planning only. Guests must pay for their own drinks and transportation. Stranger Danger also has an occasional bring-a-friend-or-couple dinner edition if you’re not keen on going alone.
Dining for Sleep
Sleeping and eating habits are deeply intertwined in our physiological systems –– exceptional sleep can lead to weight loss, certain food groups contain melatonin or other sleep-inducing hormones and habits. Foodies want to take this phenomenon to a whole new level by developing foods that are primarily conducive to sleep, and that might enhance your quality of sleep. Hotels stand to market this newfound luxury to people looking for both a relaxing conscious and unconscious experience.
Food swaps
Cauliflower rice, zucchini noodles, lettuce buns –– food swaps let you replace heavy carbs with healthier vegetable alternatives. The goal is to enhance your diet without giving up on or missing your favorite dishes. Some swaps are so convincing you’ll hardly realize the difference. Magioni is just one company that capitalizes on vegetable ingredient alternatives. The company produces pizza ingredients made entirely out of vegetables –– think pumpkin crusts and hummus spreads topped with sundried tomatoes and barbecued chicken. Ice cream brands, such as Halo Top, are marketing new non-dairy or vegan flavors to its customers. Avocado and coconut oil will replace the heavy creams of regular ice cream without sacrificing texture or flavor.
Food Transparency
A new generation of consumers have brought with them a higher standard of food production. People have begun to shy away from long ingredient lists with words they can’t quite pronounce, and popular food brands are quick to jump on the authenticity bandwagon—it has more popular to make food production process more transparent to the customer. Companies like Starbucks, Kraft and Campbell’s are striving to make their recipes more simplistic with less preservatives and artificial flavors –– GMO labels will be replaced with organic guarantees. more efforts will be made to make food production more transparent to the customer.
They’re beginning to market themselves as natural and healthful in an effort to shed the image of mass factory production from customers’ minds –– they are aiming to cater to each customer’s need for a clean eating environment and cleaner food to boot.