10 NEW FOOD TRENDS FOR 2016

There are some trends that no one is “too cool” to follow—like any trends involving delicious food. Surprising new flavors and ingredients will be emerging (or gaining popularity) this year, and you should be the first to know about them. Stay ahead of the crowd and keep an eye out for these 10 delicious new food trends.

1. Turmeric: This golden-yellow spice is native to India, and is destined to make its way into your meals. Turmeric is a great addition to rice dishes, spice rubs for barbecue, and Mediterranean dishes (to name a few). Try this Golden Rice Bowl for dinner tonight!

2. Pasta Alternatives: Instead of using traditional flour pasta, more and more people are going for veggie and bean-based alternatives. From Banza’s chickpea pasta to spiraled veggie pastas tospaghetti squash, you can enjoy classic Italian flavors with a twist.

3. Fried Chicken: Fried chicken has been around for a while—but not quite like this. From Korean to African, fried chicken is taking on more and more ethnic flavor profiles. Purists, have no fear—traditional Southern-fried chicken is still easy to get and delicious to eat.

4. Root-to-Stem Veggie Eating: The trend of embracing aesthetically challenged produce (otherwise known as ugly veggies), has led to more efforts to let no good food go to waste. So why not eat the whole veggie, from root to stem? This renewed trend will not only minimize waste, but also make finding healthy, veg-based dishes more accessible.

5. Hotter Hot Sauces: While sriracha sauces have spent a while in the culinary limelight, the world seems to be begging for a bigger, badder hot sauce. Instead of being inspired by the Asian spice profiles, the good ol’ American South has been leading this trend by making hotter and hotter sauces.

6. Sweet + Heat Honey Flavors: While chili and chocolate has always popular for the daring, the harmony of sweet and spicy flavors will soon be at the forefront in the honey section. Our favorite example of this combo is Bees Knees Spicy Honey, which is gently infused with chilies. Try it drizzled on our fried chicken—so good.

7. Savory Snacks: Snacking has reached an all-time high in the US—but so has health consciousness. Snack cravings have transformed from sweet to savory, and high-carb choices are switching out for high-protein choices. Instead of reaching for a snickers, you may find yourself reaching for a lentil bar. Here are a few 100-calorie health-conscious snacks to get you started.

8. Seaweed, the Kale of the Sea: We can’t guarantee that Beyoncé will wear a shirt that says SEAWEED, but with less calories and carbs than kale, seaweed has been gaining popularity for years. Try sprinkling dried seaweed on your popcorn!

9. Ethnic Cuisines: Be on the look out for Hawaiian Pokerias, which serve the trendy poke (poke-ay) dish of diced fish over rice. Filipino grilling techniques and African spices are also predicted to make appearances on a lot of menus this year. Yum!

10. Sour beer: Last year, we obsessed about sour foods (kimchi, pickled veggies, pickled pickles). This year, the sour obsession continues with beer! An acquired taste, this beer will be an interesting offer at your next party.