Happy New Year everyone! I hope everyone had a wonderful festive season and are now fully recharged and ready for January and the year ahead. So what is everyone wishing for in 2018? My long wished for tasty 0 calorie dessert? Buying that winning lotto ticket? Or something a little more realistic like health and happiness for all those that you love. Either way, I hope all your wishes come true. Let’s get on with this lovely list of 2018 Food Trend Predictions.
Each year, I do a little research and discover what people are saying will be popular in the coming year. Whittle, it down to just 10 of the most popular and round them up here for you guys. It is just for fun and I am no industry insider. So let’s have a look at what “they” say will be popular in no particular order and let me know what you are hoping for in 2018.
Non Dairy Milk.
Throughout 2017 there was a decline in the sales of dairy products, mostly in the milk isles. People are turning to plant-based ‘milk’ products in huge numbers now. I must admit I have pretty much made the switch myself 2 years ago. To be honest I have never been a fan of milk even when I was a kid. I have drunk black tea and coffee since my early teens and rarely eat cereal. My issues were not with all dairy, I still enjoyed yoghurt and cream, and still do.
But there are more and more options becoming available, plant-based yoghurts, cream and cheeses. So will we see a huge move towards non-dairy this year or will people become more like me and just switch things up a bit. I still eat dairy but I do switch it up with plant-based dairy replacements pretty regular. So will you be more plant-based in 2018?
Floral Flavours.
So apparently we are all going to be going crazy for floral flavours! I must admit IÂ do like some of them. I am not averse to lavender, rose, violet and I am partial to elderflower. But I don’t know how I feel about some of the others. Fresh flowers make a lovely decoration on cakes and bakes but I don’t know how I will feel about eating an edible bunch of flowers…… Oh well never say never.
Image by Tohm Brigitte @ Stocksnap.io
Sugar alternatives.
So we are going to be moving away from refined sugars and looking towards more natural alternatives. When I am trying to go refined sugar-free I look towards honey and if I am looking to use a vegan alternative I tend to use agave nectar. But there is a whole range of alternatives out there, coconut sugar, date syrup, maple syrup and rice syrup. And much more I haven’t mentioned here.
Image Marcin Czaja @ Stocksnap.io
Naked Cakes.
This is a favourite of mine, purely because it is quick and easy and I am pretty rubbish at decorating cakes! I guess its a personal choice if you are great at decorating cakes then please, by all means, carry on and make me jealous…..lol. Seriously they do look beautiful, both ways 😉
Image Karly Gomez @ Stocksnap.io
Fibre Rich Foods.
This year we will allegedly be eating as many fibre rich foods as possible. This is a pretty good goal to have, fibre is healthy and it keeps you fuller for longer when enjoyed at breakfast. So I am all in favour of this one.
Plant-Based Proteins.
So we are back into a Vegetarian / Vegan vibe again, while I can see many people switching things up a bit. And maybe adopting meatless Mondays and eating more plant-based foods. I don’t see the world switching to a purely plant-based diet. For starters I would have to wrestle that bacon out of my fella’s hands, I don’t think I would win. As much as I may like him to go vegetarian he won’t. He is prepared to eat vegetarian on occasion but he wouldn’t make the full switch. I mean he has only started eating chickpeas in the last 6 months, we have been together for 11 years. The fight is real people and I have my eyes on the very, very long game here…..
Poke Bowls.
I think it is Hawaiian food, in general, that is going to be very popular this year. While bowl food and poke bowls are making inroads in the UK it hasn’t really taken off here yet. There isn’t a lot, if any Hawaiian communities in the UK, so the food is yet to make a major impact, but I am sure that will change because we take so many cues from our American cousins with our cuisine.
Air Frying.
The healthy alternative to fried foods! Can I get an Amen 😀 I don’t own one yet but I am becoming more and more tempted, I do like some fried foods but I don’t eat them for health reasons. And if these air fryers are as good as they claim to be then I want one, I do really miss some fried foods and Pinterest is filled with loads of recipe ideas and they look, good people. 😀
Mocktails.
I love a mocktail, they are perfect for feeling a little fancy when you are the designated driver or just don’t want to drink alcohol. I mean who wants to sip on a boring old OJ when you can have something that is multicoloured and has sparklers in it?
Image Lisa Fotion @ Stocksnap.io
Middle Eastern Food.
Having spent some time in the Middle East working, I have to say I like this one. A lot of the food is vegetarian and it’s so rich and tasty. If you haven’t had the chance to try any of the cuisines yet then please give it a go. If nothing else then I am sure you will enjoy falafel dipped in hummus. Tasty, mildly spicy and so moreish! Or something like this Shakshuka.
Image Jaroslaw Ceborski @ Stocksnap.io
So as always this list is just a little bit of fun to start the New Year with. I hope you see something on this list that will tickle your tastebuds and strike your fancy 😀 Let me know what you are hoping will be popular in 2018?
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super interesting to think about! i’m not a huge dairy milk person either, and tend to drink soy milk if anything. not a huge fan of almond milk though, since it’s just seemed very slimy the past few times i’ve had it. poke is huge in california, and i hope you get it more in the uk soon!! it’s so good (:
I am hoping poke will come over to the U.K. soon as it does look really good, fingers crossed.
I love this post.. i never tried naked cake yet.. i am book marking this post …
Thank you Priya, once you try a naked cake you’ll never go back 😀
I love this post every year Emma! And I’m with you on the naked cakes! I can never get frosting to look quite right!! haha
I am all for naked cakes Ashley, I am just no good at frosting….lol
I’ll never turn down Middle Eastern food! Love the stuff. Fun post — thanks.
Thanks John, I’m with you Middle Eastern food is so good 😀
Always so interesting to see which countries have adopted what trends and when!
Thanks Lorraine, it is fun to see who will be following what this year.
I love these yearly posts of yours! It’s so fun to see the new trends each year. I’m especially excited for Middle Eastern food – I love those flavors! – and I definitely feel like it’s becoming more and more popular. Happy New Year, Emma!
Happy New Year Brianna, thank you 😀 Middle Eastern Food is all over the UK at the moment which is a great thing as its so tasty!
I’ve never made a naked cake, but it’s something I’d like to try this year! Interesting predictions—I could get behind a few of them, but not all 🙂
Thanks Liz, I am no fan of all of them either but I do like the naked cakes, purely as I don’t have your skill in frosting them!
Fascinating! What a great list!
Thanks Mimi 🙂
Happy New Year, Emma! I am so excited to look forward to your recipes. I personally love baking with less sugar and prefer no frosting cakes.
Happy New Year Balvinder, I love no frosting cakes, so much quicker and easier to make. Not to mention much better for you!
Emma, this was a fun and informative post. Thank you. I have never been a good milk drinker either. Hey where do you find date syrup?
Some of the supermarkets over here in the UK are starting to stock date syrup, but usually I find the health food shops the best place. I struggle with milk as well so I usually just try and avoid it.
Air Frying for the friggin’ win! I have been air frying since October 2016 – GAME CHANGER!!
I must admit I did think of you when I saw the air fryer come up!
I hope my comment goes through this time. Your server doesn’t seem to think I’m a real person and that I’m writing spam! Anyway, I love this post – I love that you did all this research on transfer the year, and I love that I’m already in love with many of the trends! I have never tried air frying though it sounds interesting. And I will never give up milk, because I think Cocoa made with anything else isn’t Cocoa. Happy new year!
Yes this comment got through David, I have no idea what was up with my server but I shall definitely send them an email to try and find out. I too like many of the trends this year, like you I am yet to try air frying but I am definitely intrigued by it. I have a funny relationship with milk sometimes I can but others I can’t for a classic rich hot cocoa cows milk is hard to beat.
Love the sound of all these, especially the middle eastern food. Can’t wait to see what everyone will be cooking up this year.
Thanks Caroline 😀
It is always nice to mix it up a little bit – I love Middle Eastern food and would love to experiment with mocktail recipes this year! Happy New Year!
Miriam x
Thanks Miriam, I too enjoy Middle Eastern Food and look forward to more of it this year.
I feel like that I can never keep up with the trend… like you, I am all for the fiber rich food!
Keeping up with all the trends is far too much hard work! Thanks Angie 😀