7 food trends to watch out for in 2024

In a fast-paced world where change seems to be the only constant, food can be a consistent source of comfort, safety, and warmth. Be it a serving of chicken soup, a plate for khichdi, or a bowl of ramen, warm and nourishing food can lift our spirits on the toughest days.

What we eat and how we eat it is deeply connected to our physical and mental wellbeing.

The gut-brain connection has never been clearer, and now there’s plenty of evidence to support that gastric problems can cause or stem from mental health issues such as anxiety, stress, or depression.

This understanding is coming at a time when our food choices are being increasingly impacted by external factors like climate change and geo-politics. Global warming is affecting food production around the world, putting a spotlight on resilient crops like millets and plant-based diets that have a lower carbon footprint.

Growing digitization is introducing us to AI-powered food manufacturing processes and AI-driven food apps. Read on to find out what else is in store for the 2024 pantry:

Climate-Conscious Menus and Cooking

Sustainability will continue to headline the food space in 2024. Nose-to-tail, root-to-tip cooking and eating will bring kitchen waste into focus. Kitchen practices that make purposeful use of food waste and use eco-friendly packaging will become important considerations for many, taking inspiration from the cooking habits of traditional and indigenous communities. Consumers have been showing increased interest in environment-friendly and locally sourced food options. Restaurants and chefs will talk more about climate-conscious, regional, and seasonal menus.

Feeding on Mushrooms and Plants

2023 was the hottest year ever recorded globally. Increasing climate change events are pushing many people to embrace plant-based diets as they are kinder to the planet. Research has shown that people who follow a plant-based diet account for 75% less greenhouse gas emissions than those who eat an animal-based diet.

Since sustainability is the buzzword, mushrooms will continue to trend as a popular meat substitute and a sustainable food. Mushrooms are resilient, they don’t require much water or resources to grow, and they enrich
the soil quality. Snacks fortified with plant protein – like rajma chips or pea protein crisps – are already available in the market and are expected to increase in popularity. A relatively new trend is plant-based seafood that uses a variety of legumes, mushrooms, and seaweed to create faux fish.

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