THE FIVE BIGGEST EUROPEAN FOOD TRENDS FOR 2019

Leading healthier lifestyles - including making conscious decisions about food - will continue as trends in 2019. But what are the trends that will bring about these healthier lifestyles in the year ahead?

#1 VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN DIETS

Being a vegetarian or vegan isn't anything new, but experts say more people will join their ranks in 2019. It used to be that restaurant menus would offer just one vegetarian option; these days the diner generally has a choice of several. Even vegan alternatives are becoming more common. The once generally accepted idea that a great meal had to include meat will be abandoned to an even greater extent this year. People will be more interested in finding non-meat alternatives and will be more likely to choose a veggie burger made of special combinations of fresh vegetables.

#2 MORE VEGETABLES, LESS SUGAR, SALT AND ALCOHOL

A healthy lifestyle will be even more important in 2019. Consumers will be cutting down on sugar, salt and alcohol and eating more vegetables. Cocktails made with less sugar and mocktails – cocktails without alcohol – will be considered a healthier choice. Beverages made with eggs will also be more popular, as will non-sweet versions made with ingredients like beets or pickled onions. We were already introduced to courgetti and cauliflower rice last year. This year, the trend for consuming vegetables at any time of day is only set to increase.

#3 HEALTHY SNACKING

We live in a fast-paced world, which means we spend more time on the go. To enable us to stick to a healthy lifestyle, healthy snacking has become a huge trend that has been increasing every year in Europe. This also means that the packaging of these snacks needs to lend itself to eating on the go.

#4 NEW FOOD EXPERIENCES

Consumers want new ways of experiencing foods. They want to experiment with new flavours and try different flavour combinations. Also important in this respect is the fun factor. Experts say that ice cream will become a real trend this year. Instead of a simple scoop of vanilla ice cream or a traditional banana split, ice cream parlours will be offering exotic flavours and new textures to create an unforgettable experience for customers.

#5 NEW PACKAGING

The revelations about the plastic soup in our oceans as well as the growing awareness that plastics don't decompose but turn into micro and nano-plastics are ominous warnings. At the same time, we've already become hooked on the convenience of fresh, ready-to eat and made-to-go products that almost always require a plastic solution. For this reason, we will probably be moving towards two solutions: a system that uses biodegradable plastics, and a better system for recycling and reusing other materials.

Danique Vis
Category Development Manager, DOOR Partners