The new year is around the corner, and there's no better time to get ahead of consumer food trends for 2022.

With the global pandemic changing purchasing and eating behaviors, people have formed new preferences and expectations.

From demanding ethically sourced animal products to experimenting with exotic fruits, here are five of the top trends to watch and tweak your restaurant’s menu around!

1. Reducetarianism

If there is one thing vegans and omnivores can agree on, it's that our meat consumption is not sustainable.

The solution? Reducetarianism.

It's a food trend for 2022, according to TheTakeOut.com, that is all about making more thoughtful ingredient choices and reducing your consumption of meat, dairy, and eggs without cutting it out completely.

What does a reducetarianism-friendly menu look like, and how can your restaurant adapt to this change?

Swap your standard steak and eggs for a piece of grass-fed meat and pasture-raised eggs. Make these ingredient changes noticeable on your menu and website to attract customers who follow this diet.

The Wild Feast Cafe in Rockville Centre, NY, one of Menufy's online ordering partners, embodies reducetarianism across their "locally sourced" menu. Customers enjoy fresh dishes, such as the Free Range Roasted Half Chicken Platter and Grass-Fed Ground Beef Chili, that feature carefully sourced seasonal ingredients.

2. Yuzu

A yuzu, what now?

Whole Foods describes yuzu as a tangerine-sized citrus fruit from Asia, and it's one of the fastest-growing food trends in groceries and restaurants.

Chefs add the fruit to soups, veggies, noodles, and fish. It gives a dish a lemon-lime flavor profile.

In grocery stores, yuzu is popping up in mayonnaise, hard seltzers, and vinaigrettes.

Nestled in Gainsville, FL, If It Is Kitchen & Café showcases the many applications of yuzu on their vibrant menu. Diners can get their fix while sipping sparkling yuzu matcha or biting into marinated yuzu albacore tuna.

If your menu needs an update for 2022, think about how you can incorporate this fruit and reap the benefits of jumping onto this food trend.

3. Plant-Based Foods

Hot on the heels of reducetarianism are plant-based foods. Ever since the global pandemic caused meat shortages in the US, there has been a substantial uptick in plant-based food purchases, and it's not showing any signs of slowing down.

It's estimated that the plant-based meat market will be worth $85 billion by 2030.

For 2022, think about how you can reimagine some of your most popular meat dishes with plant-based alternatives. It can be as simple as swapping out your meatballs for soy-based options, offering vegan cheese as an alternative, or adding a Beyond Meat patty to your burger menu.

Remember, the plant-based food market has evolved over the last couple of years, and it's not as hard as it used to be to find suitable substitutes. 

Even an award-winning burger joint can cash in on meat-free alternatives. S&B Burger Joint, with locations all across Oklahoma, features an Impossible Patty burger called The Millenial. Patrons can also sub this plant-based patty onto almost all of their specialty burgers.

With four billion people on a plant-based diet worldwide, it's a trend your restaurant shouldn't ignore.

4. Immune-Boosting Functional Foods

Another food trend that will continue into 2022 is immune-boosting ingredients. Consumers are more interested than ever before in eating healthy foods that boost their immune systems and help with other bodily functions.

Your restaurant can take advantage of this trend by adding these ingredients to your dishes or drinks menu.

For example, add some kefir, kombucha tea, or kimchi to your menu and help your customers boost their gut health. For inflammation, you can create turmeric and ginger smoothies or health juices.

Find inspiration from Menufy's restaurant partner, Ika San Ramen & Izakaya, which isn't afraid of putting kimchi front and center. They are serving up kimchi tempura, ramen, and eggrolls!

5. At-Home Meal Kits

In 2020 and 2021, almost everyone worldwide had to spend more time at home and skip their regular brunch dates and dinner plans.

The result?

A rise in at-home meal kits.

With restaurants closed down and consumers discovering new skills, more people started experimenting with culinary creations.

Post-pandemic, customers are still cooking at home, especially those who are wary of going out into public places.

Your restaurant can leverage this change in consumer behavior by creating branded meal kits. Create a box and teach people how to create one of your most popular dishes. You could sell it online or in-store or turn it into a monthly subscription box and boost your monthly revenue with another dining option.

Final Course

The new year is an opportunity to grab customers' attention by demonstrating menu creativity, featuring a new ingredient or dining option!

Staying relevant to your patrons is imperative to your bottom line. Consider refreshing your dishes to align with some of the changes in consumer eating behaviors.

It's up to your restaurant's culinary team to decide which of these trends will fit best and elevate your menu. 

Which of these food trends for 2022 are you excited to try in your restaurant? 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Melissa Dimmitt, Marketing Communications Coordinator

Melissa began her digital marketing career nearly a decade ago at a restaurant group. She worked with restaurant managers and executive chefs while coordinating seasonal menu releases, executing photoshoots, and creating fresh digital content.