Fast foods have gained a lot of popularity since the last few decades, especially after restaurant chains such as Domino’s, KFC, and McDonald’s opened up across the globe. The easy and quick delivery along with the combination of savory and sweet taste at affordable prices have made fast foods quite a hit. Ever since, many trends in fast foods have come and gone.
If you are planning to start your own fast food business, you ought to gather as much information as possible about this field. So, what’s trending in this sector and what’s likely to trend in 2023? Being aware of this can help your fast food business stay ahead of the curve in 2023. According to food industry research and development, here are the top fast food trends that will dominate in 2023.
Vegan and Plant-Based Recipes
Veganism has been on a rise in almost every sector of the food industry and the fast food sector is no exception to this trend. Vegan and plant-based fast foods have been among the top fast food trends 2022 and it is likely to continue trending going forward to 2023 as well.
Considering the hype created by veganism and social media networks, it’s not surprising that several fast food chains have started including vegan options like vegan burgers and vegan sandwiches on their menus. Some restaurants are also offering more vegan substitutes and plant-based meat options such as mushroom jerky, vegan cheese, and plant-based milk (like soy milk and almond milk).
Food chains like Burger King have started including meatless fast foods on their menus. KFC is also exploring the possibility of adding plant-based foods to their menu to cater to customers who wish to avoid animal byproducts
Butter Substitutes
With the increasing number of health-conscious consumers and the rising popularity of healthy foods, restaurants have started adding different kinds of healthy butter substitutes. For example, a few restaurants use chickpea butter and macadamia butter as an alternative to some unhealthy saturated oils. Some environment-conscious people prefer not to use palm oil as harvesting it is considered to lead to deforestation and pose a threat to wildlife.
Flour Substitutes
The use of alternative flours is likely to increase in the coming year. Flours made using various vegetables and fruits are expected to be used as a substitute for extensively used unhealthy all-purpose flour in different fast foods. The common ones include almond flour and coconut flour, which have comprehensive health benefits. Such flours can also be consumed by people who are sensitive to gluten. Besides being used in fast food eateries, these flour substitutes will also be available in grocery stores across the world.
Healthier and Lower Calorie Fast Foods
After the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are more health-conscious. Even if they eat outside food, they have started looking for healthier options. This healthy fast food trend has led to many restaurants adding healthier and lower calorie options on their menu. A few examples of such foods include smoothie bowls, healthy salads, zucchini noodles or zoodles, and whole grain foods.
There are many consumers who even look for a healthier base when ordering pizzas. Similarly, they prefer whole grain burger buns. When it comes to bread, sourdough is a popular choice. Chips are also made the healthy way using sweet potatoes and fried in an air fryer rather than deep frying.
These top trends are gradually picking up in 2022 and will be seen in full swing in 2023. Fast food eating joints should leap on this bandwagon early on to make the most out of it in the coming years.
