Top Food Trends for 2015

BreakingModern — 2014 was a big year for gluten-free and Paleo diets, but what’s in store (pun intended) for this year? I’ve compiled food-industry reports and insider predictions from around the world, and I believe these are the top five food trends for 2015.

food trends in 2015

Fermented Foods

“These are centuries old and traditional foods in many parts of the world. But as we become ever more aware of the medicinal value of food, and how probiotics aid in digestion, foods containing live cultures are coming to the fore,” says food blogger Anita-Clare Field of Lover of Creating Flavours.

Look out for favorites grandma used to make like sauerkraut, kimchi and pickles, and an upsurge in the use of natural live yogurt, which is rich in healthy bacteria.

Smoked Everything

U.S. consumer-trend watcher, Phil Lempert, and Field (who lives in the U.K.) both agree that smoking is no longer just for bacon and meats. Smokers are being used both in restaurants and at home to add flavor to proteins, vegetables and other foods. Even cocktails are getting the smoked treatment, with tobacco-flavored syrup and smoke-infused ice. Scorch and soda, anyone?

Marketing to Millennials

Millennials have enormous purchasing power and are less brand loyal than older consumers, so companies need to think hard about how to attract and retain them. Even a food giant like McDonald’s is having to rethink its menu to halt a fall in sales from last year. This is a generation that has travelled the world, regularly eats food from different continents and is always on the lookout for new and exotic tastes. Traditional forms of marketing don’t cut it with Millennials. They find QR codes, apps, online reviews and blogs much more appealing.

Nutritional Information Apps and Digital Dining

Obviously apps are a trend that will be embraced by tech-savvy Millennials! As weight and health-conscious consumers, we are looking for more and more information about the source of our food and its nutritional value. New apps allow you to count carbs, fats, protein and calories by scanning a barcode or inputting details about the food on your plate. And it will no longer be rude to keep your phone out at dinner, with apps surging into the market that book tables and pay the bills. Instead of a waiter, you may find a tablet on the table to input your order in your own time.

food trends in 2015

Fruit Sweeteners and Coconut Sugar

With the popularity of the Paleo diet last year and media attention on the growing incidents of diabetes and the clear, harmful effects of sugar, we will see fruit increasingly being used to sweeten snacks, desserts and drinks. Sterling-Rice Group, an advertising agency that tracks food trends, predicts the growing popularity of coconut sugar, which is made from coconut blossom nectar and is considered by some to be healthier than refined sugar.

Are you seeing these food trends in your local supermarket and restaurants? Let us know if you’ve spotted other trends you think are significant.

For BMod, I’m .

Featured/First image credit: Cucumber Kimchi” by Chloe Lim via Flickr Creative Commons

Second image credit: © janonkas / Dollar Photo Club

Judy Heminsley

Author: Judy Heminsley

Judy Heminsley is the founder of Work from Home Wisdom, a blog providing advice and inspiration for freelancers and home workers that is regularly featured in the UK national press. She is the author of Work from Home (How To Books), and writes on a variety of topics on her lifestyle blog All Things Bright & Good.

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