- Pasta Made From Produce: With many consumers seeking foods that help reduce heart disease risks and improve brain health, some may incorporate different produce into plant-based pasta; meaning, pastas that are sweet potatoes, beets, zucchini, spaghetti squash and hearts of palm alternatives.
- Dates: This high-in-fiber-and-antioxidants fruit can be an alternative natural sweetener, whether as date syrup, pitted dates in smoothies, date paste, or in ketchup or overnight oats. Date dough can be baked into cookies and breads.
- Retro Favorites: Due to longing for simpler, pre-pandemic times, some predict nostalgia will eke into product shelves or be recreated in kitchens, such as vegan-friendly, boxed mac and cheese; tuna melts using Greek yogurt and Thai seasonings; veggie-packed chow mein fritters; or classic sodas with added prebiotic benefits.
- Seven Flavors: One of the biggest flavor trends anticipated is back to basics: feel-good vanilla or strawberry added to newer flavors, such as salted caramel. Another desired flavor will be "complex heat" combinations.
- Street Foods: In the pursuit of authenticity, consumers appear especially interested in chaat masala, a tangy spice blend from North India and a staple ingredient in many street food dishes.
- Fusion: More sweet and spicy pairings, such as Southern peach habanero potato chips.
With New Year's Resolutions often come new diet-related vows. It can be a great time to get out a culinary crystal ball to envision where food product innovations and customer preferences are headed in 2023. Spotlighted here are a few, broad-based predictions based on insights from food enthusiasts.