Never Heard of Postbiotics? Well, You’re Going to in 2022 (Plus 4 More Food Trends)!
Good food never goes out of style (there’s a reason avocado toast seems to be sticking around). But keeping an eye on the newest food trends can reveal other interesting cultural shifts and priorities. Plus, it’s an easy way to find ingredients and dishes you may come to love!
As a leader in food innovation, ADM has an inside perspective on where food is headed. ADM supplies brands with ingredients to make some of your favorite snacks and beverages, and they recently unveiled the most important food trends for 2022. There’s a big push for nutrition-first foods (no surprise there), but where that nutrition comes from may be unexpected (spoiler: it’s literally thin air). Here’s what’s on the horizon in your grocery stores and on your plates.
Holistic well-being for everyone
Feeding yourself well isn’t just about taking care of your physical health. In 2022, there will be even more of a focus on eating to support your mental health, too. From adaptogens that reduce stress to botanicals that deliver vitamins and antioxidants, expect a slew of snacks and drinks on grocery store shelves that will sustain your holistic well-being and be tailored to your personal nutrition goals.
Get a recipe: Honey Chamomile Tea Latte
Protein doesn’t have to be pro-meat
Meat alternatives and plant-based protein sources have been steadily on the rise for the past couple of years, and this trend will only continue to blossom in the new year. Expect more tempeh, tofu, and soyrizo, of course, but also don’t be surprised to see totally new choices that are made with ingredients you’d never expect. Unconventional options like protein made from mushrooms, peas, and even air (see? we told you!) will be available to try in 2022.
Get a recipe: Butternut Squash and Broccolini Rice Bowl with Soy Chorizo
More support for your microbiome
Kombucha and yogurt are already common ways to get your fill of probiotics, the bacteria that help maintain your microbiome (AKA the microbes that support a healthy gut and digestive system). Some people are even familiar with prebiotics, which are found in fiber-rich ingredients like oats and bananas, and are fed on by probiotics, therefore promoting the increase of this good bacteria in the gut. But have you heard of postbiotics? They might just become a household term in 2022.
Postbiotics are the byproduct of probiotics, after they eat prebiotics. They also help maintain your microbiome, but they’re more shelf stable, meaning they’ll show up in all kinds of convenient formats, including beverages and powdered supplements.
Get a recipe: Probiotic Breakfast Bowls
Greater responsibility toward animals
Next year will also bring you even more choices when it comes to
ethical
Pets get their own grocery list
Finally, don’t forget about your furry friends. In 2022, there will be a continued increase in pet foods that focus on pets’ nutritional needs. All-natural, quality ingredients will be the name of the game in your pets’ food, and they’ll be a variety of options that you can tailor to your own dog or cats’ needs. Dry food, canned food, treats, and meal toppers will all become more niche than they already are.