These are the 6 food trends for 2022
Thuisbezorgd is on top of the trends and recently brought us up to speed. I don’t need to tell you anymore that vegetarian and vegan dishes are on the rise. Nor will it surprise you that we’re increasingly ordering lunch or simply a tasty snack during the day. But were you already familiar with these food trends for 2022?
Although Italian cuisine, with pizza, is a favorite among the Dutch, Middle Eastern cuisine is rapidly gaining popularity. The trendiest dish of 2021, and the one that increased most sharply in popularity, is the falafel pita. A dish seen as a delicious vegetarian alternative. Demand for vegetarian and vegan dishes is therefore growing enormously. Not only in the Randstad, but also beyond it, the number of orders for these dishes increased sharply this year. The greatest growth was seen in cities in Limburg, with over 55% more vegetarian and vegan orders in 2021.
The 6 food trends for 2022 show that the restaurant world and Dutch tastes have accelerated.
1. Chicken with a twist
We love chicken. Korean Fried Chicken, chicken katsu in our Japanese sando, or buttermilk chicken burgers; breaded chicken is becoming increasingly impossible to imagine off the menu. Chicken also works perfectly as a protein in your poké bowl or in healthy salads. In Europe, chicken is also the only type of meat whose sales are still growing—and it is the type of meat for which the most and best meat substitutes are currently available. The versatility of (plant-based) chicken burgers, fillets and pieces will cause a veritable chicken craze in the coming year.
2. The cold kitchen
Not in the mood to prepare a hot meal? Lucky you: the cold kitchen is becoming hot and happening this year. Think of ordering tuna sandwiches, poké bowls or fresh bread with a glass of orange juice. Convenience is key; we’re having food delivered at more and more times. For breakfast, lunch or during a Netflix evening.
3. Classic doesn’t mean old-fashioned
Pizza, hamburgers and fries are the most ordered dishes of 2021. But these old favorites are increasingly being tweaked. Fries, for example, are now ‘coated’ so they stay crispy for longer. And the order of the layers in a hamburger is being perfected so it doesn’t leak. A new trend among these classics: seasonal dishes on the menu. For example, a fresh spring burger or a pizza with mushrooms or pumpkin in autumn. And yes: there are plenty of options for vegans and vegetarians here too. Seasonal products on the menu—we’ll be seeing more of this in 2022 as well, keep your eyes open...
4. Food tribes
This year, more than ever, we’ll be looking for our soulmates, or rather, foodsoulmates. Because we are social creatures and feel connected through the choices we make in our eating habits. Food is an important way to experience kinship—so important that we can speak of ‘food tribes’. Do you eat keto? Then you look for others who eat keto. Do you eat less or no meat? Then you seek out other vegans, vegetarians or flexitarians. Do you avoid lactose in your orders? Then you exchange tips with others who do the same. A notable similarity among these Food Tribes: we love sharing our chosen eating style on social media.
5. Eating is an experience
When it comes to delivery, people quickly think of convenience. But this year, delivered dishes are becoming cozier, more beautiful and more impressive. It’s all about the perfect meal, even at home, through the experience added to the meal you order. Offline, this can mean beautifully illustrated pizza boxes, stickers on the packaging explaining how best to plate the food, or a handwritten note from the restaurateur or chef. Online experiences will also gain ground, with music playlists for the right atmosphere during dinner, funny videos accompanying the dish, or smart combinations such as film suggestions on your favorite streaming platform that perfectly match the meal.
6. From good to better
The luxury of having food delivered has become commonplace, which means that eating at home should also be healthy. We’re increasingly choosing dishes and drinks with positive properties for a healthier body and mind. In the past, this often meant less salt, sugar, carbohydrates and fat. But in 2022, it’s specifically about being ‘better’. Better concentration, better performance in sports, looking better, with ingredients such as plant-based proteins, ginger or beetroot. Functional ingredients that are better for me don’t necessarily have to be better for you. It’s about what suits your body and personal lifestyle, so an occasional delicious frikandel roll is no problem for me. Perhaps that’s the best news of this trend.
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