Food and diet trends make their mark on every season. They fill our social media feeds, are favored on menus, and become the dishes we serve to family and friends. Here are are five food trends from the summer of 2024 that may have already made their way to your table.
Tropical Fruit
Summer 2024 is all about tropical fruits like mango, pineapple, passion fruit, and dragon fruit. Use mango in beverages, desserts, and other dishes. Add dragon fruit to your smoothie for brilliant color. Or prepare a kiwi salsa or grill papaya or pineapple to serve alongside fish. If you’re curious about tropical fruit but aren’t sure fresh is best for you, visit your local market’s frozen section.
Fusion Flavors
This summer is all about global flavors and fun fusions. Look on supermarket shelves for spices, sauces, grain blends, and more. These ingredients will help you create unexpected dishes that fuse flavors from around the world. And embracing this trend is surprisingly easy. Simple recipes and convenient products abound to help you create take-out-level dishes in your own home.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms are having a “moment” this summer. They can be found in an assortment of dishes, often in place of meat and in surprising recipes. With so much versatility, you’re bound to find a recipe that pleases even the most mushroom-wary person. (Especially when they’re used in well-loved dishes.) And they’re certainly worth trying—mushrooms are antioxidant-rich and high in potassium, as well as vitamin D. Small but mighty, these fungi superfoods may also reduce the risk of chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease. They are even making their way to the coffee aisle, where popular mushroom coffee is gaining ground as a beneficial alternative to traditional coffee.
Spicy (and ”Swicy”)
Spice is hot this summer (couldn’t resist!). Supermarket shelves and restaurant menus alike are highlighting spicy beverages, dishes, and desserts made with gochujang. This movement unites popular trends and highlights flavor fusions, especially Mexican and Korean, and tropical fruit. And along with spicy comes “swicy,” which is the merger of spice and sweet. Flavors like hot honey and jalapeno agave are especially popular this summer. They may not be new, but they’re surging on restaurant menus and in supermarkets.
Tea
While we love our coffee (and maybe even mushroom coffee), tea is making a big splash. Embrace fun tea recipes that blend flavors with fresh fruit, sparkling waters, herbs, and more. Teas are flavorful and easy to make without added sugar and additional calories. However, look for Guiding Stars earning bottled teas at the market and use caution when ordering from your local barista. Some options include added sugar and other attributes you may be seeking to limit.
