I don’t know if “food trends” have always been a thing or if it’s more a thing now because of all the buzz things can get on the internet. For instance, would brownies have been considered the food trend of the year in the year 1894, the year after Betty Palmer, the owner of the Palmer House in Chicago, asked her chef to create a recipe for a small cake or confection that could be included in boxed lunches for those visiting the World Fair in 1893? After visitors ate this beloved fudgy, chewy chocolate bar, and copycat recipes started getting spread around, I just bet it could have been a “food trend of year” the following year. Goodness am I ever glad the brownie was invented. It is a trending food around our house year after year!

In recent years we’ve had certain things blow up like Greek yogurt, acai bowls, almond milk, kale, etc. So what were the popular food trends of 2019? You’ll have to share how many of these seven popular food trends for 2019 you have had, and what you thought of them in the comments at the end.

1. Keto-Friendly Foods. The keto diet was the biggest diet of the year, with many people swapping out their carbs for high-fat foods to lose weight and stay healthy. Everyone was looking for keto-friendly foods in stores and restaurants and searching for recipes online.
2. Air Fryer Recipes. 2018 was all about the Instant Pot and 2019 was all about the air fryer. It cooks the food quickly, while keeping it crispy on the outside, and juicy on the inside. It is said that it is revolutionary in making leftovers seem brand new again! Now that’s a big claim. I don’t have one yet, but it’s definitely on my wish list for 2020. 
3. Bone Broth. This nourishing, healthy elixir became extremely popular this year. People were adding it to soups or other foods, or even drinking it plain. I have definitely hopped on this bandwagon and am loving it, baby! :)
4. Celery Juice. This one is another magical elixir that promises wonderful things like more energy, and even claims to prevent cancer. My sister is one of the many who now juice a whole stalk of celery and drink it every day to enjoy some of the health benefits that are claimed.


5. Oat Milk. Hearty, creamy and filling, oat milk has taken the forefront of dairy milk alternatives this year. Move over, coconut, rice and almond milk--oat milk is here to stay! I really love oat milk as a nut-free alternative to regular milk. We have really been enjoying oat milk as a base for smoothies, or an add-in to it’s big brother, oatmeal.
6. Plant-Based Meats. Have you been curious enough to try the Impossible Burger, which is a plant-based hamburger from Burger King? You find more and more vegans every year and thankfully for them, it is becoming increasingly easier for them to find yummy and more convenient food to some of their favorites they might secretly miss from their omnivore days.


7. Sauerkraut and other fermented foods. Five years ago you likely had never heard of kombucha or kimchi, but now you see it multiple places in grocery stores everywhere. People are wanting to reap the health-benefits of fermented foods and vegetables. I, myself, drink about 8 ounces of kombucha, put goat milk kefir in my smoothies, and add freshly fermented sauerkraut to my morning eggs. I am feeling great and seem to be keeping really healthy this fall and winter despite and my other family members catching all the bugs going around. I like to think and hope it’s from all the fermented foods I’m eating and that I’m building up my immune system, but it might be coincidental.

Is there anything that you would add to this list that you have noticed a lot of on store shelves or heard a lot of buzz about this year? Are there any of these that you would love to see go? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.