5 Food Trends Foodies, Health Buffs can Expect in 2016

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It's finally 2016, and with the New Year comes new opportunities to try new things for the better. Here are some food trends that are set to make waves among health buffs this year, as more and more people move towards better nutritional options.

1. Healthy Fast Food. Current fast food chains are already moving towards healthier food choices, and this year, Yahoo! Food reports that new establishments will open up to offer fast but high-quality food. Technomic’s 2014 “The Healthy Eating Consumer Trend Report" says that 58% of consumers believe it's important to pay attention to nutrition when dining out, so it's more likely that both existing and new establishments will address this change in consumer belief. Panera Bread already committed to remove all artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, and preservatives from its offerings by the end of this year, so more establishments will likely follow suit.

2. More Exotic Condiments. Sriracha dominated globally in 2015, and Yahoo! Food reports that this 2016, exotic condiments such as Korean gochujang (fermented chili paste), Indonesian sambal oelek, and Chinese black bean sauce may make an impact in the culinary world.

3. Protein from Vegetables. Protein is required for energy and muscle growth and maintainance and according to CBC News, people are moving towards vegetable sources for protein. The United Nations declared this 2016 the Year of the Pulses (lentils, beans, peas chickpeas, and the like), and according to Sylvain Charlebois of the University of Guelph's Food Institute, this may be "a year of awakening", with issues such as animal welfare and sustainability "[compelling] many consumers to rethink their relationship with animal protein in general."

4. Seaweed. Scotland’s Mara Seaweed CEO and co-founder Fiona Houston told Women's Health, "Seaweeds are amongst the most nutrient-dense plants on the planet, and as they have access to all the nutrients in the sea, they are an extremely rich source of minerals." According to Houston, more and more chefs are cooking with seaweed. In fact, food and nutrition expert Dr. Jane McKenzie from Queen Margaret University, said, "Manufacturers are using seaweed as a healthy option to replacing the salt added to processed foods," so don't be surprised if seaweed products appear in grocery stores this year.

5. More Millennial Diners. Forbes reports that there are now more millennials than baby boomers, and their purchasing habits highly differ. In fact, nine out of 10 millennials prepare dinner at home three or more times per week. One third of millennials consider environmental concerns when purchasing foods, and 47% avoid purchasing from companies with poor labor practices while 50% support local community brands. This may create a demand for better, more naturally produced food, so expect to see more of those this year.