By Desiree Pore
Every year for four years now, Whole Foods has been releasing the top food trends for the coming year predicted by more than a dozen global buyers and experts.
From faux meat snacks to popular diets, plus our tips on where to get them locally, 2019’s top food trends will surely give foodies inspiration on what they should be cooking for the next 365 days.
Pacific Flavors
Every year the food industry becomes more and more inclusive thanks to the growing popularity of intercontinental dishes. Next year will be no different, as flavors inspired from the Pacific Rim will continue to be popular. Whole Foods cites ingredients such as our very own longganisa, dried shrimp, cuttlefish,and shrimp paste as examples of this trend.
Buy the trend: Mommy Vangie’s Vigan Longganisa & Bagnet
Probiotics
Probiotics have been a staple on the yearly trend, but for next ear Whole Foods predicts that there will be even more innovative probiotic integrations in food. New strain of probiotics such as Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 and Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 are making more shelf-stable applications feasible.
Buy the trend: BLK 513
Fats
2018 was a big year for diets thanks to the popularity of keto, paleo, and grain-free diets. ‘Fats’ along with higher protein and lower-carb combinations will continue to be in-demand and will expand to oil powder, chocolates, snacks that are called “fat bombs”, and ready-to-drink vegan coffee.
Buy the trend: Diet Meal Deliveries In Metro Manila (Photo from Pickle Ph)
Hemp
We’ve seen the rise in hemp use for beauty products from the past few years, and next year hemp will be utilized for the innovation within the food industry. Cannabis-infused products are technically still illegal, and culinary experts and food innovators have a workaround for this dilemma.
Buy the trend: Vitacost Certified Organic Hemp Oil, Bob’s Red Mill Hulled Hemp Seed Hearts (Photo below)
Meat Substitutes
Plant-based foods will see a boom next year, thanks to people who are looking for alternative ways in living a healthy life without compromising their food. More vegan-friendly products willbe available on shelves next year, with mushrooms playing a big role on this trend as their flavour and texture power will offer a ‘satisfying crunch’ on tasty jerkies, pork rinds, and bacon snacks.
Buy the trend: Veggie Boutique
Eco-Conscious Packaging
2018 saw the popularization of going green; the food industry is one of the biggest consumers of plastic in the world using single-use plastics for food packaging. A movement of banning plastics and the use of recyclable utensils is being pushed worldwide to save Mother Earth. Whole foods expects to see an “emphasis on reusing” and single-use packaging going multi-use. There’s also a trend on supermarkets going BYOVB, or bring your own vegetable bag for buying produce ingredients.
Buy the trend: Got Heart Shop (Photo below), Ritual
Frozen Treats
Vanilla and chocolate are among our old time favorite ice cream flavors. But for 2019, expect a burst in flavor from your not-so-usual ingredients such as hummus, tahini, and coconut water. Worldwide versions of the dessert will also take centerstage, started by the mocha ice cream obsession and the Thai rolled ice cream craze.
Buy the trend: Freezer Burn (Photo below), Joseph’s Craft Ice Cream
Marine Munchies
We all love to munch on seaweeds, but 2019 will see an array of ocean influence on the shelves. Seaweed butter, kelp noodles, and snackable salmon skins with Omega-3s are just some of the ocean flavors that will be a big hit next year.
Buy the trend: Frabelle’s Salted Egg Fish Skin
Upgraded Snacks
We all love our fair share of snacks, and this will continue on to the next year, as Whole Foods predicts that our snacking preference will take a turn towards the fancy and anything but ordinary. Expect your snacks to have a bite of prosciutto and aged mozzarella, as well as artisanal versions of classic snacks like cheese or peanut butter cracker sandwiches.
Buy the trend: GERALD.ph, Raw Bites (Photo below)
Purchases that Empower
We all want to be a smart buyer especially when we buy food. For 2019, consumers will expect a lot more from the brands and businesses that they choose to patronize. Important points will include environmental stewardship, animal welfare, and will be more people-focused. Female-owned businesses and chefs will be the focus of different brand in order to get the support of consumers.
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