Our Top 10 Food Trends for 2019

This article is written and published by: Whole Food Markets

Retailer’s global and local experts forecast emerging flavors, products and culinary influences.

What will you be eating and Instagramming in 2019? We asked our panel of trend-forecasters to make their predictions. These culinary experts, buyers and foragers in our global offices and across our 490 stores have a combined 100 years of experience spotting the next big thing, so let’s just say we think they’re onto something. Drumroll, please: Here are the top 10.

Whole Foods Market’s top 10 food trend predictions for 2019:

1. Pacific Rim Flavors

Flavor inspiration from the Pacific Rim (think Asia, Oceania and the western coasts of North and South America) are popping up in grocery stores and restaurants as people continue to explore more of the world through their palates. Ingredients like longganisa (a Filipino pork sausage), dried shrimp, cuttlefish and shrimp paste are on restaurant and home menus that span from breakfast to dinner, while vibrant tropical fruits such as guava, dragon fruit and passion fruit are making their way into colorful smoothie bowls and cocktails. Jackfruit is a popular meat alternative already being used in place of items like barbecue pulled pork, while an extract of monk fruit, an ultra-sweet-tasting fruit also known as luo han guo, can be used as a sweetener replacing added sugars. In the coming year, Whole Foods Market and 365 Everyday Value brands will launch a limited collection of refreshingly sweet products inspired by Pacific Rim fruits like guava tropical vinaigrette, pineapple passion fruit sparkling mineral water, mango pudding mix and passion fruit coconut frozen fruit bars.

Try the trend: Fresh produce like dragon fruit and star fruit; Whole Foods Market Pineapple Passionfruit Tropical Sparkling Mineral Water; 365 Everyday Value Passionfruit Coconut Swirl Fruit Bars; 365 Everyday Value Organic Strawberry Guava Pudding Mix; 365 Everyday Value Guava Coconut Swirl Fruit Bars; 365 Everyday Value Pacific Rim Dried Mixed Fruit with Jackfruit and Guava; 365 Everyday Value Guava Tropical Vinaigrette, Lakanto Monkfruit Sweetener

2. Shelf-Stable Probiotics

Back in 2017, our experts predicted the naturally occurring probiotics in fermented foods like kimchi and “pickled everything” would blow up the food world. In 2019, expect even more innovative probiotic integrations in food — and not just in the supplement or refrigerated aisles. New strains of probiotics such as Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 and Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 are making more shelf-stable applications possible. Wellness-focused brands are making it easier to get more probiotics in your day by adding functional probiotic ingredients to your pantry staples through products like granola, oatmeal, nut butters, soups and nutrition bars. Another unexpected place shoppers can find probiotics is in the cleaning aisle with brands like Counter Culture Probiotic Cleaning Tonic, an all-purpose cleaner that utilizes probiotic cultures and essential oils. Even beauty brands are including pre– and probiotic–based ingredients through sunscreen and other topical body care.

Try the trend: GoodBelly Probiotics Crunchybars; Effi Probiotic Chickpea Granola; Pacifica Sunset Sun + Skincare Mineral Sunscreen Spray SPF 30; Vega One Botanical Blends Organic All-In-One Shake With Ashwagandha Extract; Counter Culture Probiotic Cleaning Tonic and all-purpose cleaner

3. Phat Fats

Fats are making a comeback, and the trendiest diets are on board. With the rising popularity of keto, paleo, grain-free and even “pegan” (paleo + vegan) diets, plus a general shifting consumer mindset, fats are starring ingredients in creative, convenient foods. Along with these phat fats, higher protein and lower-carb combos will continue to trend across simple and easy snacking categories. New integrations of fat sources — like keto-friendly nutrition bars crafted with MCT oil powder, coconut butter–filled chocolates, snacks affectionately called “fat bombs” and a new wave of ready-to-drink vegan coffee beverages inspired by butter coffees — are busting on the scene allowing consumers to get their fat fill with convenient treats. Keep your eyes and taste buds open for popcorn made with grass-fed ghee, multiple flavors of ghee that range from sweet to savory, plus new variations on traditional meaty snacks like chicken chips and thin, crisped beef jerky.

Try the trend: Fourth & Heart Madagascar Vanilla Bean Ghee Butter made with grass-fed ghee; Eating Evolved Keto Cups; Keto-friendly Dang Bars; Forager Project Organic Coconut Cashewgurt; Love Good Fats Plant-Based Bars; 4505 Cracklins; Wilde Chicken Chips; Vital Proteins Mocha Coconut Collagen Creamer

4. Next Level Hemp

Hemp hearts, seeds and oils are nothing new to food and body care lovers — they’re in everything from waffle mix to dried pastas. (Even baby hemp leaves have had their moment in the microgreens trends.) But a new interest in the potential benefits stemming from other parts of hemp plants has many brands looking to explore the booming cannabis biz. While CBD oil is still technically taboo (prohibited in food, body care and dietary supplements under federal law), retailers, culinary experts and consumers can’t miss the cannabis craze when visiting food industry trade shows, food innovators conferences or even local farmers markets. But there’s more to this trend than CBD. Andalou Naturals has introduced hemp plant stem cells in their CannaCell body care collection. Non-cannabis-derived sources from the endocannabinoid system (which are named after the cannabis plant that inspired their discovery), like phytocannabinoids that exist in nature, are also becoming more visible and prevalent due to the growing trend. It’s clear that hemp-derived products are going mainstream, if not by wide distribution, then by word of mouth! 

Try the trend: Emerald Health BioCeuticals EndoCalm Supplement; Andalou CanaCell Harmony Botanical Body Lotion & Happy Day Cream; Manitoba Harvest Organic Hemp Seeds

For more detail, please visit this link:

https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/top-10-food-trends-2019