Following trends just to be in vogue with the latest fads is not always healthy. But that does not mean that you should ignore developments in those aspects of life that have a direct impact on you. Food is an essential part of life and being able to eat healthy and enjoy what you consume adds to the enjoyment of life. As with everything else, not all food trends are for everyone. That said, here are a few of the trends expected to take off in 2024 for you to think about and try. 

• Global Fusion:Fusion food has been around for some time, but now it is moving out of specialty restaurants and entering the mainstream. From Korean tacos to Peruvian pasta, no combination is too far out. If you are conservative in your food habits, this is the year to try new things. You may not like them all, but the ones you do will stay with you.
• Eco-Friendly Eating: Minimizing, if not eliminating food waste is a huge imperative in a world facing increasing food shortages. The trend of people obtaining food from sustainable and ethical sources, reducing food wastage, buying local and understanding the impact of what they cook and eat on the world around them is growing.
• Functional Food: Functional foods, or nutraceuticals, are foods that have many powerful health benefits. People understand the impact of the food they eat on their lives and overall well-being. The risks of overconsumption of cholesterol-rich fatty foods and the benefits of eating lighter, healthier meals are changing the way people will be eating in the future. The popularity of this trend means that increasing demands are driving down the prices of some previously expensive healthy foods.
• Plant-Based Diets: Meat will never disappear from the American diet, but vegetable-based meat substitutes like jackfruit, tempeh and seitan are growing in popularity as people increasingly appreciate the environmental and health impacts of reducing their meat consumption.

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Also Read: Easy Mediterranean Home Cooking Part 1

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• Regional Meals: Designing a meal menu to reflect the taste of a specific part of the world adds variety and newness to the family's diet. Not all cuisines will appeal to all tastes, but there are some, like the Mediterranean diet, that are sure to be to everyone’s liking.
• Alternative Ingredients: Replacing sugar and wheat-based flour with alternatives has multiple benefits. It caters to dietary restrictions, often makes food healthier and adds to the flavor profile of many of the foods we eat every day. Think of sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit and flours from chickpeas, coconut, almond and so on.

One cuisine that incorporates many of the best aspects of these emerging trends is Mediterranean cuisine. The people in the Mediterranean region are known to be among the healthiest in the world with the longest life spans. Mediterranean food is not a trend or a fad. It has been around for thousands of years and is today one of the most popular styles of food in the world. Science has established the link between this diet and the good health of the people who eat it. And eating this food is no sacrifice. Pick up a falafel wrap and you will understand. It is known to be delicious and contains ingredients that will appeal to every palate.

Adding this food style to your family’s diet is not difficult. Find a Mediterranean grocery store near you and drop in or order online. If it is anything like Aladdin Gourmet in San Mateo CA, you will not only find the ingredients you want, but they will also have helpful staff who will go out of their way to ensure that you leave the store with everything you need to create a delicious Mediterranean deli menu.

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