With each passing year, some foods tend to lose favor and it’s not that they lose flavor. We’re quite picky and demand new ingredients and products to meet our finicky needs. And so, with the close of 2016, many of us will subtly push some of last year’s favorites like kale aside and seek something new. Maybe we will jump on the purple craze and bring this hue into our cooking hoping to load up on antioxidants and nutrients with lilac asparagus, potatoes or cauliflower. Or perhaps we will introduce more red meat to our diets as experts tell us it’s not as bad as we thought. Whatever new food trend you decide to embrace, it’s all part of our evolution as consumers in this ever-changing world of food.
2017 promises to take the farm to table, vegan and sustainability concepts and lifestyles even further. We are encouraged to waste less and get more out of our food. From meal prepping, using second hand or “ugly” vegetables to putting every last scrap to use, we want to be much more mindful in our habits. But what strikes me the most in the trends predicted for 2017 is “Cooking to Connect” identified by the Sterling-Rice Group. With the desire to “connect over food” SRG notes: ““Sharing is caring” will strengthen its impact on dining in 2017.” This combined with “Mindful Meal Prep” trend which Whole Foods identifies for 2017 makes Cooking with Friends an ideal lifestyle.
Not only do we connect with one another, but we think about what and how we are cooking. We enjoy the process and understand the influence we can have on our own bodies and minds and the health of those we love. Together we can find new ways to embrace this year’s trends, combining forces and use our friendships to help us be better and smarter cooks. Whether we decide to experiment with nutritional yeast or hop on the empanada wagon, cooking with our friends will give use the motivation and strength to try new things. As January comes to a close, I encourage you all to embrace the “connectivity” trend and invite a friend to cook with you.
What are your food interests for 2017? I’d love to know if you’re willing to share in the comments below.
Suz says
The evolving food trends are so fascinating! Thanks, Alison for bringing this to our attention. It’ll be very interesting to pay attention to this and see what foods emerge as the “in” foods. And which ones disappear from our consciousness. I wonder where kale will fall!Su