Nothing marks time better than trends. Your mothers sunflower kitchen wallpaper and those stirrup pants don’t lie. We’re trendy. Our favorite creature comforts of today will be outdated sooner than you think. Food is no exception. Check out the looming 2016 food newcomers and those fading 2015 food trends.
2016 Food Trends: 
Clean foods is a new movement towards chemical and additive free foods. No one likes the thought of eating unnatural additives and the truth is that we eat a lot of chemicals. Look for trends featuring artificial flavor or color free foods.
Pasta is dead. A huge bowl of carbohydrate starch with extra gluten has never been more unpopular. Pasta will virtually disappear in 2016 and pasta alternatives and substitutes will reveal themselves.
Poke is the new sushi. Poke is a Pacific or Hawaiian staple that consists of a bowl of chopped or cubed raw fish like ahi tuna, marinated with soy sauce, nuts, veggies, fruits, oils, and is often served spicy or sweet.
Retail Food Destinations. Unfortunately, retailers will enter the food game. On line retailers are killing the traditional store front retailers. In a desperate attempt to re-enter consumer markets we will see small restaurants and cafes inside familiar retailers.
Savory French Toast. KCFoodGuys.com will be boycotting this looming trend. French toasts will be served with crab meat and capers.
2016 Foodie Buzz Words: Burnt vegetables, root-to-stalk cooking, automated food kiosks, 3-D food printers, General Tso flavorings., Values – not value
Food Trend History Timeline:
2015: Local Meats, Farm-to-table, gluten free, kale, gourmet roman noodles and Pho, made from scratch condiments, gourmet donuts and Biscuit and Gravy Potato Chips
2014: Gastropubs, small plates, micro greens, cronuts and cage free eggs
2013: Gourmet Vegan, Korean flavors, Sriracha sauce and Fusion restaurants
2012: Seaweed, Bison burgers
2011: Almond Milk, Sliders
2010: Coconut water, Alfalfa Sprouts
2009: Smoothies
2008: Soft Serve Yogurt
2007: Food Trucks
2006: Probiotic Yogurt
2005: Starbucks culture immersion as coffee chain opens 10,000th store
2004: McDonald’s removes Super Size menu as part of anti fast food fad
2003: Anti Carbs movement with South Beach or Atkins diets
2002: Vitamin Water
2001: Rachel Ray
2000: Cupcakes
Fred is a enthusiastic and opinionated food writer that dreams in barbeque, craves street tacos and boasts about organics. Fred is an adventurous eater who balances the local classics but loves to try out the new spots and trends. Fred loves the Downtown/Crossroads/Westport lunch scene and is currently campaigning for true BBQ in the BBQ Dead Zone(aka: Liberty MO).
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