Is This the Least Surprising Food Trend of 2018?

New York City-based restaurant consultancy group, Baum + Whiteman, thinks it knows the biggest food trends of the upcoming year. And at the top of its list is something that might strike many of our readers as unsurprising, if not obvious. The company forecasts that plant-based eating will reach new heights in 2018.

Their prediction feels all too self-evident. But maybe that’s the point. As they note in their report, 31% of Americans refrain from eating meat on specific days while 35% get their protein from sources other than red meat. These statistics point not to an emerging trend, but perhaps something a little more culturally solidified. Baum + Whiteman—citing these statistics and the influx of plant-based products filling grocery stores—only anticipate increased interest in plant-based eating.

The report features other conjectures, like the increasing popularity of Filipino, Indian, and Korean cuisines, as well as a sustained interest in all things avocado. Overall, the list seems much less about unheard of trends, but more so about identifying those already on the rise. Either way, the research is exhaustive and full of examples. To see more of what they have to say, check out the report here.

Also, if you're interested in learning more about plant-based diets, check out some of our favorite deep dives into the topic:

Will you partake in plant-based pandemonium or sit this one out? Let us know where you stand in the comments.