The Top Ten New Food Trends

We have seen a food revolution in recent years and there is every reason to expect it to continue. It will continue, and in ways that are at times surprising and other times totally expected and logical. The trends will be in the way we eat and what we eat, how we dine out and where, how food is grown, produced, delivered, sold and consumed. Many of the new trends are exciting developments that will truly bring a new richness to our food experience, not only in taste and flavor, but in nutrition, health, and our moral obligations to the environment and other living beings.

It's an exciting time to be interested in food – or to be a “foodie,” if you will – but it's also just a plain good time to eat. This top ten list was derived from a joint research project conducted by The Food Network, Culture Waves, and International Food Futurists. Peruse this list and and when your appetite is wetted, click on the links for an interesting article on each trend. It's a mouth-watering flume ride into the future of food, and one that you are going to live. Whether you're hungry or not, here they come: The Top Ten New Food Trends.

The flailing economy gave many people a extra helping of reality, so we're spending less. We don't rush out to get the newest electronic device like we used to, nor are we dining out as often. Our firmer grip on our wallets – or purse strings – has spread to our eating habits as well. We're eating home more often and keeping our pantries filled with all the basics. MORE→

Dining establishments aren't sure what they are supposed to be anymore. They will experiment to find the right measure of style that will please the emotional palates of the most customers. We've seen this happening before as ala carte menus gave way to Dim Sum gave way to Tapas. MORE→

Now that grocery stores have become more democratic – that is, there's less of a caste system and all foodstuffs are created equal – the stores will bulge to accommodate more private labels or even old generic brands that have transmogrified into their own brands. MORE→

Give us your tired, your weary, your masses huddling around the great American melting pot and adding their food culture ingredients to the kettle. Today's flavors come from the combination of our diverse heritage and is defining the new American cuisine. Our forefathers were kicked out of every decent country in the world, thank you very much, and they brought with them their food. MORE→

Are we eating the right things? Is this healthy? How was this food grown? These are just some of the questions consumers are asking themselves. Humans have always needed assurances, whether through knowledge or religion, and it's no different with food. MORE→

Sustainability means capable of being continued with minimal long-term effect on the environment, and this will become important in our food choices. Previously, it was not a concept that was enthusiastically embraced, but the new trend will be to not only welcome sustainability with open arms, but to seek it out. MORE→

The drive towards beneficial foods has been going on for some time, but you can expect it to really come full force. You've previously called food nutritional, healthy, or what have you, but now you'll start to see more and more foods with nutrients added or bad stuff removed as in “fat-free,” and “gluten-free.” MORE→

The word “foodie” has entered the mainstream, and rather than being a term designating something like a food nerd, it is now worn as a badge of honor. It simply designates someone who loves food and loves to try new things. Who is it that is ordering the Lobster PB&J sandwich? The foodies, that's who, the same people who as kids dipped their Mickey D's french fries in their vanilla shakes. MORE→

Bartering itself is becoming more common as people look for ways to lessen their daily expenses. We already live in an economy where it often makes more sense to rent than to buy, like renting jewelry or even a name-brand purse for a special event. Or a special bit of lawn equipment for a weekend's work instead of doling out the large amount of cash to own the thing. MORE→

You're gonna love this new trend. After all, what's not to love about YOU. Is all about the individual rising to the top, like the cream in the milk of life. Sure, there's a trend towards sharing too (witness more communal tables showing up in restaurants), but the other side of the coin is the trend toward you, the individual. MORE→