Health is becoming an increasing concern in the modern world, and the food industry is quickly jumping on this bandwagon. Both traditional grocers and conventional restaurants now provide healthy food options as part of their standard offerings. Vegans and vegetarians, organically-minded consumers, and health activists might be particularly excited about the new health food tendencies, while more omnivore customers could appreciate fresher flavors, better nutrition, and reduced calories as well. With that in mind, it’s worth taking a look at some of the most prominent health food trends shaping the industry in 2022:
Plant-based diets are gaining traction
Although this trend has been around for quite some time now, plant-based diets continue their domination of healthy food choices in 2022 as well. This phenomenon is likely caused by the sudden increase in vegans and vegetarians, as well as their surprisingly strong influence on the health food industry. Searches for the best food recipes are increasing, websites are following up with plant-based alternatives, and supermarkets and restaurants are improving their vegan offerings all around the globe. However, it seems like the primary concerns for consumers are still the origins of their food and its overall health effects.
Foods for gut health are rising
As the importance of gut health begins dominating the online space, markets and stores are quickly following suit. More probiotic and prebiotic foods are now taking up shelf space, mainly products such as kvass, plain kefir, and kimchi. These foods promise to support digestive tract health and aid in improving digestion, which might explain their sudden rise to fame. When combined with the increased demand for whole, fresh and local foods among consumers, the tendency to eat probiotic and prebiotic foods becomes even more prominent.
IBS-fighting foods appear
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is becoming a more common heath concern in the modern world, and many trendy diets are now focusing on foods that help to relieve or fight its effects. These often include low-FODMAP, keto, and paleo diets. But as it turns out, dietary sensitivities might be caused by consuming preservatives and processed foods as well. As a result, grocers and retailers are aiming to sell more IBS-friendly products, including salad dressings, salsas, and other condiments that may lead to bowel irritation in their traditional form. Menu items are also being customized to food sensitivities, in turn directly helping to increase restaurant traffic.
Healthy snacks are on the rise
Healthy snacks have truly come into their own in 2022. The industry has taken note of this trend, and now consumers can easily find delicious health food online to support their dietary choices. Dried fruit, nutrition bars, veggie crisps, natural cookies, and similar single-serve packages of snacks are readily available and increasingly popular. However, these online stores are stocked particularly well, aiming to follow other healthy food trends such as alternative grains and spreads as well.
Alternative spreads are increasing
Whether it’s due to plant-based diets or the need for gut health, alternatives to traditional butter spreads are increasing too. They are among the top 2022 food trends, mostly due to the fact that they are easily accessible in mainstream grocery stores and conventional eateries alike. Alternative spreads often include almonds, pumpkin, cashew, tahini, chickpea, and watermelon seed butter. More supermarkets and restaurants are aiming to cater to paleo and keto diets, while consumers are looking for products with no palm oil or nuts grown under environmentally suspicious conditions, which might explain the appearance of this food trend.
Dairy alternatives affect smoothie sales
Smoothies were favored among consumers for quite a while, but they continue increasing in popularity each year. The mix of raw fruits and vegetables, high fiber, and sheer convenience may all contribute to this trend. But what makes smoothies even more prominent this year is likely the increased availability of non-dairy milk. Alternative kinds of milk incorporate almond, oat, hazelnut, coconut, rice, and similar milk. They are a brilliant substitute for dairy allergies and lactose intolerance while supporting plant-based diet tendencies as well.
New flour varieties gain prominence
In this competitive industry, more flours are now being ground and sold as well. Consumers can easily purchase alternative flours in health-oriented grocery stores, and they’re also increasingly popular in trendy restaurants. They aim to replace wheat flour for individuals with gluten allergies, wheat allergies, and those wanting to reduce their gluten intake. Most commonly, alternative flour is made from chickpeas, buckwheat, amaranth, quinoa, oat, rice, coconut, tapioca, and a number of different nuts. Many fruit and vegetable flours are also available, and might help to turn everyday dishes into remarkable cuisine.
Sales of brain boosters increased
After decades of losing popularity due to allergies, nuts and seeds are making a comeback in 2022 once again. Their newfound popularity can be explained by the fact that they are considered to be brain boosters, along with being a great source of healthy fats and concentrated protein. Professional chefs have often avoided these ingredients in the past because of common nut allergies, but higher transparency now means that customers can look at the menu ingredients themselves before ordering. In other words, the responsibility is now on consumers, and chefs can use nuts and seeds without any guilt, leading to trendy foods like smoothies, salads, and stir-frys.
As the world continues to change and evolve, so do the health food industry trends. The tendencies mentioned above can give you a great insight into startup opportunities and increasing healthy food sales in 2022.
