Plant-based foods, especially vegetables, have clinched the top spot in the Foodscape Global Metatrends two years running, and are predicted to lead once again in 2018. The next evolution of this leading metatrend—the trends of the trends—involves the merging of plants with gut health and fermentation.
No longer does plant-based mean strictly vegan, or even vegetarian. Rather, it’s about the “transitioning omnivore” seeking out a plate with relatively more fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds, and less meat and dairy. And nutritionally speaking, plant-based foods are typically high in fiber and phytonutrients, both of which feed the healthy gut microbiome.