2026 Food Trend Predictions
These predictions are just my opinion based on what I’ve seen in the news, observed on menus, and noticed in the world. These are not guarantees, and are just for fun. But at least some of them are bound to come true as we turn the pages on the 2025 calendar and look towards a whole new year full of surprises to come.
Asian Citrus
Yuzu has been creeping onto the menus of more savvy chefs and bakers already in 2025. More of the lesser well-known citruses will hit the scene in 2026. Move over oranges, limes, and lemons. We’ve got new pleasantly tart flavors coming from around the globe! Hello pomelo, calamansi, and kumquat, and more!
Lab Grown Meat Advances
With the prices of home grown American beef going up thanks to the Trump administration, lab made meats will continue to make advances both in the lab and in the minds of people who think they would never eat it. Once the billionaires see it as a profitable industry, they’ll pour more money into it, which could make it a reality sooner than you’d think.
And the more it’s out there, the more likely people are to eventually try it. Of course, there will be the stubborn people who will refuse to consider it, and try to ban it, in (surprise, surprise) mostly red states whose main exports are regular meat products, I predict.
Muted Color Foods
Many big companies are phasing out artificial dyes in food and medications thanks to RFK Jr’s call to do so. Of course, some companies and countries, like Europe) have done this all along, but there will be some challenges involved. Price hikes, a shorter shelf life, and people’s dislike of change are all challenges the food industry faces when it comes to complying. Overall, it should be a good move for people’s collective health, and may even lead to some quicker innovations in retaining our beloved brightly colored food without all of the unpleasant side effects.
Grandma’s Depression Recipes
Just like the 1920s, the 2020s are a time of the rich getting richer, and the poor getting poorer. Since most of us aren’t in the top 1%, we’re getting shafted and everything’s getting smaller — from our bank accounts to the serving sizes of our food for the same prices as before. Enter Grandma’s Depression era recipes, meant to stretch a dollar and feed more mouths than she knew what to do with. In this modern era, pull out the stained index cards or spiral bound church cookbooks, because our grandparents and great-grandparents knew how to get dinner on the table even when paychecks weren’t keeping up with inflation.
GLP-1 Portions
Anyone on GLP-1 knows that the whole point of it is to make you want to eat less. So you do. But restaurant portions are still enormous, and who wants to eat the same leftovers for four days? Enter GLP-1 portions popping up on restaurant menus. Yes, much smaller versions of the same dish, meant for one serving or a little to take home in a doggie bag.
Electrolyte Focus
People are going to start focusing on their electrolytes more in 2026. Powered electrolyte drink mixes will be a big seller. People may get burned out on focusing on upping their protein and the associated dangers of too much protein consumption.
Dubai Chocolate’s Out
Once you see something edible sold in the aisles of Lowe’s Home Improvement, it is mainstream and not as cool. It’s still delicious, but not trendy or sought-after. It’ll be something you buy as a treat for yourself to indulge in while you paint your bedroom or hang new blinds.
And sadly, Dubai chocolate has mostly run its course. It was fun while it lasted, Dubai chocolate. I loved the creativity you inspired in bakeries, coffeeshops, and chocolatiers worldwide.
THC Food
If Trump makes weed/THC legal, not illegal, or reschedules it to make it more widely accessible federally, expect a rise in weed everywhere. Not just rolled up, or in a vape, or gummies. It’ll be in your drinks, cocktails, food, grocery stores, gas stations, everywhere. Weed butter will be sold at farmers markets by giddy looking folks in beanies. You’ll be able to order a weed-tini at the high-end (no pun necessarily intended) steakhouse. THC bakeries will pop up. Depending on the time frame and restrictions, this could continue to ascend into 2027 and beyond.
Third Party Restaurant Delivery Dashes
With the rise of third party drivers stealing restaurant food orders and begging for tips via text, some consumers will continue to turn away from the app. We’ll likely see shrinkage or shift away from the traditional service of delivery directly from the restaurant to consumer homes.
DoorDash’s stock may be up now (as of Dec. 1, 2025) thanks to private investment, but it was down by 22% in recent months prior, signaling consumer disinterest.
A Viral Dessert
Who’s to say what it’ll be yet, but a viral dessert will emerge — likely from TikTok’s algos. It’ll be akin to the crookie, which emerged in Paris of all places, and made a medium impression first in Europe, then America, but didn’t last long. It was incredibly delicious though, and I wish crookies would have had more staying power.
Here’s to 2026
What do you think will be the next big thing in food in 2026? Do you think any of my above predictions are highly unlike, or spot on?
