Trends in Vegetarian Cuisine 2008
The Food Trends that Connected Meatless and Mainstream Diets in 2008
Dec 30, 2008
The food environment underwent an overhaul in 2008, thanks to a series of global influences. Here are some of the most important trends that changed the vegetarian landscape.
The Environmental Movement
Sometime in 2008, phrases like “greenhouse gas emissions” and “carbon footprint” entered the vocabulary of everyday people. With the green trend reaching farther and staying longer than ever before, experts agree it may just become a permanent part of our lives.
Vegetarianism became a key strategy in the fight against rising carbon emissions and global warming. E The Environmental Magazine ran a full-length cover story about how a meatless diet can help the environment, and smaller publications piggybacked on Green giants like David Suzuki’s Nature Challenge to highlight vegetarian food products and meal ideas.
References and Resources:
- Meat and the Environment
- David Suzuki's Diet for a Healthy Planet and Nature Challenge pages
- David Suzuki's The Science of the Challenge (scroll down to the bottom of the Diet for a Healthy Planet page).
Omega-3 Fats
In Chinese Astrology, 2008 was the Year of the Rat…but in the food world, it was the year of the fish.
Omega-3 fatty acids were heavily researched and promoted in 2008, ending up in food staples and supplements in every supermarket aisle – from orange juice to bread to milk.
Does tuna or salmon in your bread sound…well, fishy? For vegetarians and vegans who already have difficulty interpreting ingredient labels, the omega-3 boom means yet another item to seek out on product labels.
Luckily, some companies recognize the value in using vegetarian sources of omega-3 fats derived from flax seeds (linseeds) or algae. These are generally listed as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, though it is also found in fish) and increasingly, algal DHA.
References and Resources:
Frugal Food and Cooking at Home
Though foodies – the estimated 14% of the U.S. population who are intensely interested in food and eating - are still out in full force, “out” is increasingly meaning “the grocery store” instead of “restaurant”.
Even before the economic crisis hit full-force, people were eating at home more than in previous years. One Canadian survey found nearly 9 out of 10 respondents aimed to decrease the amount of time they spent eating out at restaurants.
It makes sense that when money is tight – and stress is high – people cook at home to save money, and cook comfort food to ease the pain of recession.
Foodies are still leaning towards gourmet and exotic foods – fruit like the pomegranate and durian were 2008 favourites – but these are treats enjoyed at the kitchen table instead of the restaurant stool.
References and Resources:
- Hills, Sarah. Foodies lead the way in shaping the industry. Foodnavigator-usa.com. 17-Dec-2008.
- Tobin, Anne-Marie. Consumers intending to dine out less, report says. Healthzone.ca. 16-Dec-2008. The Canadian Press.
Vegetarianism Itself
In 2008, vegetarianism and meatless meals became trendy. An estimated 30-40% of Americans are interested in eating meatless meals at least occasionally.
Health benefits, the environment, and the economy are all good reasons to reach for the veggies instead of meat. Studies consistently point to a vegetarian diet as one that promotes health and helps to prevent disease.
That the erroneous term “flexitarian” has persevered suggests that even meat-eaters find value in preparing vegetarian and meatless meals.
Another indication that vegetarianism has gone mainstream is the sheer number of new vegetarian food products hitting the store shelves. A few highlights of 2008 include new varieties of meatless sausage, "Roast Wheat” and hemp beverages. A wider segment of the population seems to be trying vegetarian alternatives, even if they still eat meat.
References and Resources:
- Serecon Management Consulting, Inc. Canadian Food Trends to 2020: A Long Range Consumer Outlook. Prepared for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Ottawa, Ontario. July, 2005.
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