7 food trends to watch out for in 2024

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:

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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.

Functional and Health-Boosting Ingredients

Foods with promising health benefits, such as superfoods, adaptogens (ginseng, ashwagandha, tulsi), and ingredients promoting gut health, will continue to be prominent for those pursuing holistic wellness goals. Consumers are increasingly looking for foods that offer both nutritional value and a wellbeing boost.

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Global Flavors and Third Culture Cuisine

Third Culture Cuisine is all about the foods beloved and dreamed up by people raised between cultures. Think fusion cuisines like American-Thai, Italian-Japanese, Wafu-Italian or Filipino-Spanish. Fusing different cuisines to create distinct new flavours is a much-needed affirmation to culinary and cultural diversity. It also adds more excitement and zing to the act of cooking. Quinoa dosa, taco chaat, anyone?

Artificial Intelligence in the Kitchen

Advancements in technology, including the use of artificial intelligence, automation, and precision farming, are influencing the way food is produced and distributed. This includes innovations in food processing, smart farming techniques, and tech-driven improvements in supply chain management. Innovations in meat alternative segments will continue to find their way to restaurants. AI-powered recipe apps are already available. They are like virtual kitchen assistants that can help you rustle up meals from scratch.

Buckwheat, the New Superfood

This pseudograin, which is actually a seed, has been heralded as the new superfood to watch out for in 2024. It is packed with fibre, free from gluten, and effective in managing cholesterol and blood sugar levels. While the rest of the world is toasting its health benefits now, buckwheat flour or kottu ka atta has long been a kitchen staple in India as a fasting food. Globally, climate and health-minded consumers have been lapping up buckwheat garnish and flavoring in appetizers and cocktails.

Singing About Soups

The spotlight is swinging toward rasam and shorba in India and soups globally. The US food media has predicted soup as the Dish of the Year for 2024. Soup is a comfort food that comes together quickly and allows for experimentations with healing herbs like garlic, basil and coriander, plus a whole host of ingredients derived from both plants and animals.

Just because a food is trending, doesn’t mean you have to add it to your plate. But there are lessons we can all take away, like being mindful of how and what we eat. Food that has been sourced locally and sustainably, and cooked and consumed mindfully can enhance your physical and mental wellbeing while strengthening your relationship with your community and the planet. In 2024, let’s aim to eat healthily, slowly, and with gratitude. Bon apetit!

Inputs by Prakriti Poddar, a Seattle-based wellbeing expert and Global Head, Mental Wellbeing at Roundglass Living app

Thumb and Embed Images Courtesy: istock

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