Kale, bacon, macarons, and avocado toast. What do these four foods have in common? They were once at the top of the Food trends list. This year, there’s an increased focus on sustainability and dietary restrictions.

7 Food Trends

Ugly Produce

Don’t judge a book by its cover. “Ugly” produce is the kind that doesn’t make the visual cut and end up in stores. It isn’t as colorful or pretty, so it isn’t sold. There are delivery services popping up all over the place that specialize in ugly produce. In an effort to lessen food waste, there’s a trend towards buying and using ugly produce. After all, it still tastes great!

Plant Based Protein

Vegan options are getting better and gaining popularity. From the impossible burger (Burger King’s April Fool’s Day prank was a huge hit) to plant-based “fish,” even fast food chains are looking at incorporating more vegan options into their menus.

 Milkshake IPAs

It’s a beer with lactose! Just like a traditional milkshake, the addition of lactose sugar makes the beer creamy and a little sweet. It’s a different way to make an IPA that adds a different flavor. This is a great option to have at a networking event. It’s a great conversation starter, as most people probably haven’t tried it yet.

 Oat Milk

How many kinds of milk are there? Turns out, quite of few are crowding supermarket shelves these days–some you’ve probably not heard of yet. Joining the non-dairy milk trend, oat milk is coming out on top. Expect to see it all over the place this year, from grocery stores to draft oat milk lattes. Think about offering it as a nondairy option at events or providing draft lattes.

Lower Impact and Eco-Friendly Packaging

In an effort towards healthier living and environmental focus, the packaging is taking first place. The use of recycled or recyclable materials has increased. Companies are also trying to reduce the amount of packaging used for products. As you buy swag, food, and more for your events, take the time to look into packaging options.

Orange Wine

What is this exactly, you say? It’s white wine made by leaving grape skins and seeds in contact with the juice, creating a deep orange-hued finished product. The wine is not made from oranges – even though it sounds as if it is. More accurately, it is a skin-contact wine. For happy hours, networking events, small company events think about incorporating orange wine into the drink list. 

Cashless Payment

Stores and more are cutting out the ability to pay with cash, instead offering card or mobile payment and digital wallet options. While there has been some backlash concerning the ability of those who lack accounts or rely on cash for payments, in the event world the ability to pay without card is a boon. Festivals offer the opportunity to load money on wristbands so that attendees don’t have to worry about carrying around more than they need to. When it comes to events, cashless options could make the onsite experience more seamless and cut down on lines.

Try Out Trends at Your Event to Improve the Attendee Experience

Trends come and go, but events are a great place to try them out. Attendees love to be the first to try something new and trendy foods can be great for social media.

Learn more about the latest meetings and events industry trends here.

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