By: April Graff, MS, RD, LD. Hy-Vee Dietitian
Food trends are so interesting because they mimic what is happening in the world around us. Some trends stick around for years, while others pop in and out within months. Here’s a list of what I think we’ll see trending the next 12 months.
Buckwheat. Wellness continues to hold immense influence over the food industry, shaping the food we eat in numerous ways. Buckwheat is naturally gluten-free and a good source of prebiotic fiber. Prebiotic fiber nurtures your gut microbiome and can improve a person’s overall health. Although it is actually a seed, buckwheat can be used in much the same way as wheat with buckwheat flour being used to make anything from waffles to bread. What’s more, whole buckwheat groats are very similar to quinoa in uses, appearance, and flavor. This means that buckwheat, in both its forms, can be easily adopted into a person’s daily cooking and eating practices.
High-Low. This trend takes something simple and humble and makes it with higher-quality ingredients. Take for example ramen noodles. Convenience foods such as instant noodles are more popular than ever. Today’s consumers don’t just want convenience, however, they also want flavor. Home cooks have long been upgrading their instant noodles but now many companies are starting to do the work for them. These gourmet noodles don’t just taste better than other convenience foods, they often contain fewer preservatives. Consumers are also drawn to the product’s relatively low prices.
Botanical Flavors. The demand for wellness-related products in 2024 will also result in a rise in the use of botanicals, a group of ingredients that include herbs, roots, and flowers. Flavors we will see more of include turmeric, ginger, mint, hibiscus, elderberry and rose. Rarely consumed on their own, botanicals are increasingly being added to products including beverages and granola to boost their healthiness and add complex flavors.
Less Sweet, More Savory. We’re cutting down on sweet flavors and leaning into more savory ones. Consumers say they want lower sweetness in favor of other flavors, and we see that in the marketplace with a shift from sweet to bold flavors. Keep your eyes out for Smoky BBQ and White Cheddar Granola Bars, reduced sugar yogurts and spicy beverages.
Looking for help with custom nutrition recommendation? Book a free, 30-minute Discovery Session with April Graff, Hy-Vee Dietitian, to learn about package options and which service would be a good fit for your goals.
Try these Buckwheat Banana Waffles: Buckwheat-Banana Waffles | Hy-Vee
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