FOOD #1 : Top 20 Food Trends for 2010

By EatingWell Magazine, on Wed Dec 23, 2009
By Michelle Edelbaum


Last year’s food trend predictions were all tied to the struggling economy: cooking budget-friendly recipes at home, dining out on the cheap and shopping for bargain ingredients. This year, the trends on the National Restaurant Association’s list of the Top 20 Food Trends for 2010 suggest we’re making decisions based on our health and the environment.

National Restaurant Association’s list of the Top 20 Food Trends for 2010:

1. Locally grown produce
2. Locally sourced meats and seafood
3. Sustainability
4. Bite-size/mini desserts
5. Locally produced wine and beer
6. Nutritionally balanced children's dishes
7. Half-portions/smaller portion for a smaller price
8. Farm-/estate-branded ingredients
9. Gluten-free/food-allergy conscious
10. Sustainable seafood
11. Superfruits (e.g., acai, goji berry, mangosteen)
12. Organic produce
13. Culinary cocktails (e.g., savory, fresh ingredients)
14. Micro-distilled/artisan liquor
15. Nutrition/health
16. Simplicity/back to basics
17. Regional ethnic cuisine
18. Nontraditional fish (e.g., branzino, Arctic char, barramundi)
19. Newly fabricated cuts of meat (e.g., Denver steak, Petite Tender)
20. Fruit/vegetable children's side items



What about you? What food trends do you hope stick around? Which trends don’t you care about?