Two years. That is an estimate of how long a human spends thinking about food in their lifetime. In today's society, food is not something that we consume with the sole goal of survival. Food has become an ever-growing, ever-changing trend that is always on the forefront of our minds. This new art-form now controls social media. Instagram feeds are filled with delicately designed meals and most of the videos on Facebook advertise "The World's Biggest Bowl of Pho," or "The Rainbow Bagel." It is no wonder food is always on our minds—we are constantly being exposed to it. This obsession with food is not going away as the new year rolls in. 2017 is looking to be another huge year for the foodie. Here is what to expect:
1. BOWLS ON BOWLS ON BOWLS ON BOWLS
This huge trend is expected to be even bigger and better than it was in 2016. First, it was the rise of the acai bowl, then the poke bowl. Now, smoothie bowls are looking to transform the way we have our smoothies—from a straw to a spoon. Smoothie bowls are the new and extremely popular way to have your morning smoothie. It also allows for the addition of countless toppings such as fruit, chia seeds, almond butter, cacao nibs, nuts...the opportunities are endless. Also, bowls called Buddha bowls are looking like they're going to be a very big deal in 2017. These bowls have no strict guidelines as to what has to be in them, but most contain rice, tons of veggies, and tofu with a peanut sauce. Bibimbap, a Korean dish, is another bowl that looks to be huge this year. Bibimbap literally means "mixed rice." It is made with white rice, tons of veggies, a type of meat or tofu, and is topped with an egg.
2. MORE VEGETARIAN OPTIONS
Animal products better make way for these new, trendy, vegetarian options in 2017. A quarter of Americans have said that they are striving to eat less meat, and 2017 is definitely going to cater to these requests. A popular trend that has been seen all over social media is the new "bleeding veggie burger." The Impossible Burger is made to mirror the taste, smell and texture of a typical burger made from beef. By replacing our beef burgers to a veggie burger, we cut the carbon footprint of that burger by 90%. Other foods that are sure to be extremely popular in 2017 are jackfruit, a fruit from southeast Asia that many vegans use to replicate pulled pork, and coconut bacon, an amazing and delicious replacement for bacon.
3. FRIES MADE FROM ANYTHING & EVERYTHING
As if fries weren't popular enough, expect a significant rise of the fry in 2017. Gone are the days of the classic french fry made from potatoes, and say hello to this new age of fries that are made from...well just about anything. Restaurants everywhere are turning just about anything they can get their hands on into fries. Seen in the pictures above we have fries made from avocados, fries made from polenta, and fries made from portabella mushrooms. This trend really has no limits.
