Sorcha Judge forecasts 2017’s biggest food trends.

Have you noticed that your burrito devotee friend has started paying Chopped a few more visits this year? You’re not the only one. Healthy eating, and veganism in particular, are forecasted to become more popular food trends than ever before in 2017. Lisa – the manager at health food store Nourish – reckons that this increased interest is down to influencers such as Ella Woodward, Hemsley & Hemsley, our own Roz Purcell and of course, the Happy Pear twins. Increased coverage of the lifestyles of these minor celebrities on social media means that we are being constantly bombarded with snapchats of vegan meals and clean-eating instagrams.  A backlash to this trend is also flourishing, due to outspoken carnivorous ambassadors such as Pitt Bros on Millennium Walkway and My Meat Wagon in Smithfield.

 

Celebrity Endorsements

Interest in healthy eating has become noticeable in the last few years. 2016’s most popular superfood was, without a doubt, coconut oil. This product was heavily endorsed by celebrities such as Sienna Miller for use as a hair conditioner. Health gurus such as Madeleine Shaw, Joe Wicks, and the aforementioned Ella use it in place of oils with a higher saturated fat content and also as an ingredient in sweet dishes. Thanks to these famous fans and the social media coverage they provide, it became a more accessible ingredient. As it became more popular, competing brands ensured that prices dropped and it quickly popped up in mainstream stores. Coconut oil earns its reputation as a superfood. Health benefits include supporting weight loss, boosting metabolism and being packed full of healthy fats.

Sales in Nourish so far this year have indicated that watermelon is set to be the new coconut. While this new-found popularity could be attributed  to Beyoncé partnering up with WTRMLN WTR, a brand that produces cold-pressed watermelon juice, it could also be argued that this up and coming trend is down to watermelon’s low calorie count and the antioxidants present in the fruit. Watermelon keeps your bones strong and, due to the combination of vitamins B1 and B6, boosts energy. Probably the most relevant nutritional benefit of watermelon water is the high levels of potassium. One bottle of WTRMLN WTR provides double the amount of potassium that a banana does. Why so much enthusiasm about potassium? Well, it’s a proven hangover cure. So even if you’re not a health nut, try a watermelon water on your next grim Sunday morning and see if this new trend works for you!

 

Fermentation

Another culinary trick that is set to take off in 2017 is fermentation. The Happy Pear are definitely the driving force behind this one with four recipes on their YouTube channel incorporating fermentation. However, they aren’t the only fermentation enthusiasts pushing this trend in Ireland. Practically every café now offers a sourdough bread option with kombucha – a fermented drink made with tea, sugar, bacteria and yeast – becoming more and more popular. Kimchi, a Korean dish of fermented vegetables, is predicted to be popular in Ireland this year with Cultured Kitchen – an Irish vegan kimchi range – coming soon to Nourish and already stocked in Urban Health, The Hopsack, and The Happy Pear. Fermentation is the process of keeping foods in brine in order to prevent bad bacteria from growing, while at the same time allowing good bacteria to be present. Like coconut oil, fermentation isn’t just a fad. The health benefits such as reduced bloating, improved digestion and easier absorption of nutrients are likely to make fermented foods a staple in our stores and homes this year.

A related craze is the fermented milk drink, kefir. Popular brunch haunt The Fumbally have been offering kefir as an option since mid 2015, but the rest of Dublin has been slow to catch up. However, with kefir becoming more accessible in food stores and supermarkets, it will be everywhere in 2017. Health stores such as Nourish and Holland & Barrett are also selling kefir starter cultures to facilitate those who are opting for the homemade choice. This keeps with the overall move towards healthy eating as some people champion kefir as a probiotic and an antibiotic. There is also a claim that, due to the soothing effect kefir has on the nervous system, it also offers a better night’s sleep and has a reductive effect on anxiety.

 

Veganism

Vegetarianism has been steadily gaining popularity in Ireland for the past few years, but veganism has gotten off to a slow start. However, that is all set to change in 2017 with ‘Veganaury’ establishing itself as a resolution in the same vein as Dry January. Although Dublin has long offered a restricted menu for vegans and vegetarians, 2016 saw a change. From Sova Food Vegan Butcher, Ireland’s first fully vegan restaurant opening on Pleasants Street, to McGuinness’ Traditional Takeaway on Camden Street providing drunk food for vegans and vegetarians looking for a midnight snack. 2017 is already seeing an increase in people identifying as vegetarians or vegans. Lisa, from Nourish, puts this down to increased accessibility of vegetarian options and the growing vegan activism movement in Ireland. There is a strong Irish movement growing due to both animal rights and environmental awareness groups. Disregarding personal views upon the use of animals in farming, the animal farming industry uses a disproportionate amount of land and water resources compared to plant farming. Choosing meals that are less reliant on animal produce is an easy and hassle free way to reduce the cost of our eating on the planet. It is clear that our food choices are becoming more sustainable. This is the most important food trend of 2017 and, indeed, the foreseeable future.

Backlash

There has been a reactionary backlash to both the healthy-eating craze and the vegan movement. Pitt Bros, a BBQ restaurant on George’s Street advocated shunning veganism and opting for the meat option with their window advertisement: ‘Wish this was made from tofu, said no one ever’ followed by ‘#EATMEAT’. The success of restaurants such as Pitt Bros, My Meat Wagon, and Bison Bar & BBQ show that even as the vegan community grows, meat lovers are going nowhere. If anything, a focus on meat and meat  grown locally and cooked well, is another food fad that has established itself quietly and is only set to grow. This means that Dublin is providing an abundance of gastronomical options in 2017. If you choose to eat meat, you can have any kind in any style and there are safe havens all over the city in which eating meat is not looked down upon but explicitly encouraged.

If do you choose to opt for the vegan diet, make sure to put it on your tinder profile. It’s a great conversation starter, trust me.