Restaurant Menus in 2022 Will Focus on Healthier Planet, Healthier Consumers
Menus will become streamlined in 2022, while chefs anticipate alcohol-infused desserts, globally inspired items, and upscale potato chips
Restaurant customers can expect to see health taking center stage on restaurant menus in 2022. The National Restaurant Association today released its annual What's Hot Culinary Forecast, which offers a detailed look at the topics, trends, and products expected to drive restaurant menus in the coming year across a variety of categories including daypart occasions, menu categories, beverages, flavors, global inspirations, packaging/off-premises trends and industry macro-trends.
After demand for comfort food surged during the height of the pandemic, consumers are refocusing on better-for-you options, with foods that are believed to have immunity-boosting qualities and plant-based sandwiches making up three of the Top 10 Trends for 2022. Plant-based proteins are growing increasingly popular on menus and less expensive cuts of protein, such as thighs instead of wings, will have a greater presence in the year to come.