If there’s one big takeaway from this year, it’s this: It’s time to stop fearing foods and instead find nourishment in the things that bring us joy. 2022 was the year for redefining “healthy.” Healthy is personal; it’s not one size fits all.
When it comes to sizes, famous personalities such as Lizzo, Jameela Jamil, and Jonah Hill have used their platforms to declare that your physical appearance does not reveal your health status (and, to be honest, it’s not other people’s concern).
In an era where wellness is increasingly individualized and social media crazes lose popularity rapidly, is it possible to anticipate the upcoming craze? Our editors have identified the leading trends for 2023 by gathering a catalog of novel items and food discoveries being introduced into the market. Furthermore, we integrated trend analysis and website traffic statistics to fine-tune the catalog.
One notable trend observed this year was the significant emphasis on sustainability and the development of innovative products aimed at establishing a sustainable future for our food systems.
Since its inception in 1990, EatingWell has been producing food-related journalism that delves into the intersection between delectable meals, the nutritional value they possess, and their impact on the environment. The current year has brought with it a sense of kinship among other food-related industries, and it is an exhilarating period.
1. Alternative Coffees
EatingWell.com noticed a 36% increase this year in the number of coffee enthusiasts. Similarly to the previous year, there is a rise in the availability of alternative coffee products on the market. The current trend is sustainability as coffee makers aim to revolutionize coffee culture positively.
Atomo coffee provides the same taste and level of caffeine as regular coffee, but is devoid of beans. The reason behind this is that the brand aims to cater to coffee enthusiasts who demand a more sustainable option due to the impact of climate change on production areas.
FigBrew has caught our attention as it is a coffee substitute created using figs. As per Dani DeAngelis, an EatingWell Fellow, FigBrew is an exceptional coffee alternative that stands out due to its distinctiveness.
“It was so different from anything I’ve ever tried before,” she says. “It doesn’t try to mimic coffee’s flavor but instead embraces the sweetness of figs within its bitter notes to create the perfect cup.”
2. Upcycled Foods
Although coffee production usually produces a significant amount of waste, cascara, the pulp of the coffee fruit, can be utilized as a delicious hot beverage resembling herbal tea with flavors of tamarind and raisin.
Cascara tea has been a traditional drink in coffee-producing countries, but it has only been introduced to the U.S. market recently and is now featured on local coffee shops’ menus, including Starbucks. However, consumers should note that the cascara latte and cold foam items are coffee beverages.
Coffee cherry extract is used to flavor the syrup and sugar topping containing cascara. “Cascara latte calories” emerged as a popular term on Google Trends this year, while “cascara fizz” experienced a 150% surge in the past year, indicating exponential growth in search interest.
Producers are exploring options to reuse food production byproducts beyond coffee. As a result, consumers can expect to find a variety of products on grocery store shelves, including upcycled chips, chocolate bars, and flour mixes. Whole Foods plans to sell upcycled oatmeal chocolate chip cookies this spring, which are made from oat pulp sourced from oat milk production.
3. Yuzu
Yuzu seems to be gaining popularity in the U.S., as evidenced by the creation of a unique White Claw flavor. This tangy citrus fruit originates from China and Korea and is commonly used in Japanese and Korean dishes. Furthermore, yuzu is considered a beneficial ingredient in certain J-beauty and K-beauty items due to its reputed antioxidant properties.
Yuzu-flavored items such as sparkling water and canned cocktails, as well as Trader Joe’s Yuzu Hot Sauce, are becoming more common on the shelves of American supermarkets. According to Google Trends, searches in the U.S. for anything related to yuzu have increased by 80% compared to the previous year. Fresh yuzu citrus may be challenging to locate, but yuzu juice can be purchased at your nearby Asian grocery store or via the internet.
4. Copycat Recipes
In the initial stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, individuals resorted to making their preferred restaurant dishes in their own homes. Surprisingly, this practice has endured, even though most individuals are no longer self-isolating. In actuality, we are observing the contrary.
This year, there has been a 167% increase in the attention given to “copycat” recipes on EatingWell.com, while Pinterest has seen an enormous 8,000% surge in searches for the “Starbucks eggbites copycat recipe” and a 100% increase for “copycat Taco Bell Mexican pizza” in comparison to the previous year. Google Trends confirms the pattern, with an increase in searches for specific recipes from the previous year.
Why do people bother trying to make the perfect replica when they could easily go and get the authentic item? It may be beneficial to save dining at restaurants for special events if you are monitoring your sodium consumption. Panera’s Green Goddess Cobb Salad with Chicken contains 1,050 milligrams of sodium, while the EatingWell mimic recipe has only 479 mg of sodium.
Saving money is another advantage of eating at home. The prices of food have increased due to supply-chain problems, inflation and diseases affecting poultry farms. Dining out can become quite pricey. To illustrate, two of Starbucks’ famous egg bites cost approximately $5, but you can create your own replica at home for only about $1.75 for two bites.
5. Sea Plants
Sea vegetables that are safe for consumption are gaining popularity as a food trend for 2023. Kelp, which was featured in our 2022 list, is expected by Whole Foods to be widely consumed this year. According to EatingWell’s associate food editor Alex Loh, more kelp-based products will be available on supermarket shelves in 2023.
“Whether it’s kelp chips or kelp noodles, the algae is a nutritious, versatile product that’s also good for the environment. Kelp can help absorb carbon in the atmosphere and doesn’t require freshwater or added nutrients, two major wins in the age of climate consciousness.”
The Pinterest Predicts 2023 report forecasts that the most popular superfoods of the future will come from the sea, as they have been a traditional dietary component in Asian societies and remain popular with Millennials and Gen X. Pinterest has observed a surge in interest for “seaweed snack recipes” (+245%) and “nori recipes” (+60%) on its platform.
According to Google Trends, “salicornia salt” emerged as a popular trend this year. A fresh item in the market, Green Salt is a salt substitute produced with salicornia, a plant found in salty estuaries and marshes and also known as samphire or sea beans. Dehydrated salicornia is ground into a powder to create Green Salt, an option which contains less sodium than ordinary salt.
6. More Plant-Based Options
Regarding meat, it’s probable that there will be a decrease in its consumption in the approaching year. According to an article in Progressive Grocer, 27 percent of individuals are opting to eat less meat, leading to a surge in interest for healthier substitutes. The Good Food Institute (GFI) reported in March 2022 that sales of plant-based foods have increased three times quicker than overall food sales.
The GFI reports that although burgers remain the most widely-consumed item in the plant-based meat group, manufacturers are now adding sausage links and patties, as well as chicken nuggets, tenders, and cutlets to their product lines.
Konscious Foods, founded by the same entrepreneur behind Gardein, has introduced the first frozen vegan sushi and onigiri in the market, contributing to the expansion of plant-based seafood options.
According to Expert Market Research’s report, there will be additional substitutes for animal-derived products such as dairy and eggs. These alternatives, such as Just Egg (which was selected by Starbucks to test in their new menu this year) and Zero Egg, are suitable for vegans and those with allergies.
7. Cultured Meat
In 2022, the sale of cultured meat, which is meat grown in a lab, was authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), though it still requires approval from the USDA before going to market. It is probable that this approval will be granted in the near future.
Upside Foods aims to reduce the environmental and ethical impacts of chicken farming by lowering the consumption of conventionally raised chicken through their meat.
Lab-grown meat involves taking cells from an animal and cultivating meat from those cells. Although it shares biological similarities with animal meat, it eliminates the need to kill an animal, potentially decreasing the carbon footprint of meat production by avoiding the methane emissions associated with grazing animals. Additionally, lab-grown meat poses a lower risk of transmitting foodborne illnesses that may be associated with animals.
These types of foods could allow individuals to combat climate change, steer clear of antibiotics and undesirable chemicals present in meat, and obtain greater functional advantages compared to conventional foods. However, whether these claims hold true for the products is uncertain, according to Bonnie Taub-Dix, RDN, an author from New York City, who wrote Read It Before You Eat It: Taking You from Label to Table.
8. Eco-Conscious Eating
A growing number of Americans are prioritizing not just their personal well-being, but also the well-being of the environment through their food choices. This trend towards climatarianism is becoming increasingly popular as people strive for sustainability while grocery shopping. According to a Cargill survey conducted in 2022, over 50% of participants stated that they would be more inclined to buy packaged foods that prominently displayed a sustainability affirmation on the packaging.
Natural Grocers reports that a new variation of healthy and sustainable eating, known as the “regenivore diet,” is emerging in the industry. It goes beyond simply consuming nutritious food and embraces the idea of contributing to the restoration of the ecosystem by endorsing regenerative agriculture and repurposing or “upcycling” food scraps that were previously discarded during production.
In the spring of 2023, Whole Foods Market will introduce oatmeal chocolate chip cookies originated from residual ingredients produced during oat milk processing to its bakery section.
Renewal Mill produces baking mixes using upcycled ingredients in effort to combat food waste and climate change. Additionally, they offer a range of beverages, such as Reveal, which contains prebiotics and antioxidants and is crafted from unused avocado pits.
9. Mood-Boosting Foods
Although the focus has been on enhancing immunity due to the pandemic, there is still a significant demand for functional foods and beverages. Recently, the interest has shifted towards foods that promote positive feelings and help in battling depression, preventing dementia, and improving brain health.
The report titled “Mintel 2023 Global Food and Drink Trends” identifies the emphasis that brands put on promoting the cognitive advantages of beverages and eats containing caffeine, magnesium, zinc, and B vitamins. According to Natural Grocers, EPA and DHA, the omega-3 fatty acids, are highly sought-after as they’ve been linked with improving symptoms of mood disorders.
Anticipate frequent discussions regarding natural nootropics backed by research, which are said to improve cognitive abilities. Examples include L-theanine found in green tea, ginseng, lion’s mane mushroom, and gingko biloba. Nonetheless, the effectiveness of these substances is yet to be verified through further research.
10. More Mocktails
Alcohol intake has declined, with a decreased volume consumed by those who do partake. According to a recent Gallup study, the percentage of Americans who consume alcohol has decreased from 65% in 2019 to 60% in 2021. Additionally, the average number of drinks per week has hit a low point of 3.6 since 2001. Dry January is anticipated to reinforce these patterns and sustain them going forward, according to Kennedy.
According to her, individuals are seeking alternatives to drinking that offer both fun and celebration without the same frequency as before, and with lower calorie counts. This has led to an increase in the consumption of alcohol-free options such as spirits, beer, and wine.
According to My Food Data, Non-alcoholic wine contains as little as 9 calories per serving, whereas a low-calorie wine may contain about 73 calories and most wines contain around 109 to 120 calories, while minimizing alcohol consumption also decreases health hazards associated with alcohol.
Celebrities have jumped on the bandwagon of offering drink options that do not contain alcohol. For instance, Blake Lively introduced a range of non-alcoholic drink mixes called Betty Buzz while Bella Hadid is associated with Kin Euphorics, which produces a variety of adaptogenic beverages.
11. Food for Your Gut
Despite lingering uncertainties regarding which foods are most beneficial and whether supplements should be taken, there is a strong desire among many individuals to maintain good gut health. According to Natural Grocers, 44% of Americans have sought to enhance their gut health by consuming supplements within the past year.
Probiotics are foods that promote gut health, such as yogurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, fermented cheeses, tempeh, miso, kombucha, and pickled vegetables. In addition, probiotics have recently been incorporated into a variety of other foods, particularly beverages.
While prebiotics and postbiotics are likely superior alternatives to soda, they may not be the most optimal means of consuming those substances, according to her. As knowledge about the essential nutrients required to maintain gut health grows, the significance of prebiotics and postbiotics is expected to increase.