The Food Trends Confirming That 2016 Has Been #TheYearOfTheVegan
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Veganism is on the rise - so much so that 2016 has been dubbed #TheYearOfTheVegan.
There is estimated to be about one million vegans worldwide, the UK in particular has seen a 350% rise in self-proclaimed vegans in the last 10 years. The plant-based crusade is being driven by the younger generation – a recent article outlined that vegans aged between 15 and 35 are actually attributing social media like Instagram for inspiring them to ditch the meat and dairy.
So it's no surprise that some of Instagram's biggest food trends this year have been vegan!
- Zoodles
Also known as courgetti, zoodles are spiralised ribbons of zucchini (or courgette) that can be used in any dish that calls for noodles or spaghetti. The rise of the zoodle craze also coincided with the popularity of raw food diets. Don't you wish you were the inventor of the spiraliser?
2. Cashew Cheese Sauce
As more people look for dairy-free options, the ease of making your own cashew cheese at home with nothing more than cashews and a blender has sent social media into a vegan mac and cheese frenzy.
3. Jackfruit
Jackfruit is in in a big way right now! The vegan community has discovered that this exotic fruit makes a delicious addition to otherwise meaty dishes. It seems to be particularly popular in veganised Mexican food!
4. Banana Ice-cream
Sometimes referred to as banana 'nice-cream', this 100% vegan ice-cream alternative is made by blending up 3-4 frozen bananas until they become creamy. It's become the basis of smoothie bowls everywhere, the summer breakfast of champions, and can be topped with a whole range of naughty or nice additions.
5. Seaweed
Kale is out and seaweed is in! This super nutritious and highly sustainable vegetable of the sea has never fully found it's way into the mainstream before now. From vegan sushi rolls wrapped in nori to chopped seaweed salads - the seaweed bandwagon isn't showing any signs of slowing down.
6. Aquafaba
No, that's not the name of some weird '90s band, aquafaba is actually the incredibly nutritious water than your tins of beans come in. Yeah, that stuff you always drain down the sink. Due to its ability to be whipped up like egg whites, it's being used a direct replacement in baking - like in these vegan macaroons.
7. Rice Paper Bacon
Some genius vegetarian who was missing their bacon sandwich one morning discovered something amazing. By baking, frying or microwaving rice paper that's been dipped in a smokey spice mix, the result looks shockingly like the real thing. And with its smokey taste and crispy texture, it passes on all counts.
9. Turmeric Lattes
With turmeric being one of the big health food trends this year, turmeric lattes tick all the right hipster coffee-loving boxes. We're not sure how they taste but the thought of waking up to a big mug of sunshine yellow certainly looks appealing.
10. Buddha Bowls
If I had to pinpoint just one Instagram trend that single-handedly pioneered the vegan movement - it's the buddha bowl. Essentially just a big colorful bowl of grains and greens, there's not a single plant-based food blogger out there whose page isn't dotted with images of them.
11. Vegan Wings
The last food item to be enjoying its time in the limelight right now are vegan wings. Typically, you'll see them made from cauliflower and usually they're done buffalo style!
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