The coronavirus pandemic has pretty much transformed every aspect of our lives; even the way we interact with food and our perceptions on previous eating habits…

So as we begin to adjust to life in a ‘new normal’, and restrictions continue to ease such as pubs, bars and restaurants re-opening,what changes to eating habits should operators and chefs be aware of if they wish to appeal to new consumer demands?

… Well let’s find out as we identify 5 key food trends that we predict will soar over the next few months in the ‘new normal’

1. Quality over quantity‍

We think it’s fair to say that after months of cooking, cleaning, baking and decorating at home, consumers have now reached a point where they are craving some TLC and a taste of ‘luxury’.

This definition of ‘luxury’ will of course depend on the consumer, but generally, high quality food and drinks + plus high quality service = a recipe for success!

2. The power of plant-based

Okay, so the plant-based phenomena may not be a new trend, but it certainly is one that now has more profit-potential than ever before, and the stats back this up!

According to the latest research by Mintel (25%) of young British Millennials (aged 21-30) say that the COVID-19 pandemic has made a vegan diet more appealing...

...but it’s not just the millennial generation that are considering converting to veganism post-pandemic… in fact, the same research also revealed that a vegan diet is proving more attractive to over one in ten (12%) of all Brits, rising to almost a quarter (22%)of Londoners….With stats like this, plant-based options are a must on any menu!

3. Healthier alternatives

If there’s one thing that coronavirus has taught us, it’s that nothing is more important than our health.Unsurprising then that consumer demand for healthier, more natural products is set to accelerate to new heights over the next few months: a prediction which is supported by a recent FMCG Gurus survey which revealed that 80% of consumers said they were planning on eating and drinking more healthily because of Covid-19, Beverage Daily reported.

Whipping up the best, most tasty, healthy dishes yet, will make the future of food look very green!

4. Bye-bye to booze (for some of us!)

Many of us may joke that lockdown has driven us to drink,however, as an Opinium survey finds, for around 14 million of us, lockdown has been the time to take steps to manage or stop drinking altogether.

However, healthy drinks do not need to be plain and boring -especially now that there are such wide range of ingredients, syrups, juices,sodas available – many of which are perfect for making amazing mocktails, smoothies, milkshakes and more!

5. Exotic cuisine

One of the main industry’s hit by the coronavirus pandemic was of course travel, and as a knock-on-effect,millions of customers have faced the disappointment of cancelled holidays.

Though disappointing, the majority of Brits will have got used to the idea of their holiday plans being cancelled or postponed by now… but that doesn’t mean they won’t still want an exotic food experience right here in the UK!

Authentic, global dishes can help to transport customers to their desired holiday location, especially when creating an authentic ambience to match the dishes served!