A meals professional has defined the meals we shall be consuming subsequent yr – from banana and sweetcorn to dandelions and nettles
A meals professional has defined the well being and wellbeing developments set to dominate what we eat in 2026. Worldwide meals futurologist Dr Morgaine Gaye has predicted the wholesome consuming patterns hundreds of thousands will undertake subsequent yr.
2025 noticed gut-healthy bowls, oat-milk favourites and plant-powered consolation meals dominate the foodie scene.
1. Banana
Morgaine predicts a nostalgic resurgence of the banana, with the comforting fruit set to maneuver past smoothies and porridge. Count on banana puddings, drinks, pies, frozen treats and bakery improvements, impressed partly by the worldwide buzz round Magnolia Bakery’s Banana Pudding. Banana will pair with heat, soothing flavours like cinnamon, chocolate and low.
Lily Keeling – Inexperienced Chef UK’s Senior Recipe Improvement Supervisor and Registered Nutritionist, mentioned: “Bananas are wealthy in potassium and prebiotic fibre, supporting nerve operate and intestine well being. Their pure sweetness and creamy consistency make them ultimate for more healthy desserts and drinks.”
2. Sweetcorn
Not confined to savoury dishes, sweetcorn will change into a hero of dessert innovation. Its refined sweetness, nutty umami notes and sunny color are set to encourage sweetcorn ice lotions, custards, drinks and pies, balancing nostalgia with novelty.
Lily mentioned: “Sweetcorn is filled with fibre and incorporating it into desserts is a intelligent method to enhance dietary worth whereas including creativity.”
3. Cardamom
Influenced by Scandinavian cardamom rolls, and the rise in Center Jap dessert flavours, the spice boasts pure anti-inflammatory properties and is poised to take over well being bars, drinks and candy treats subsequent yr.
Lily mentioned: “Cardamom’s antioxidant and anti inflammatory qualities make it well-suited as a purposeful meals, providing each flavour and wellbeing advantages.”
4. Tahini & black sesame
Tahini and black sesame will dominate 2026’s candy, and more and more savoury panorama. Count on black sesame ice lotions, tahini coffees, and tahini-chocolate pairings to rise alongside dishes like charred halloumi drizzled with black-sesame tahini. Offering stiff competitors to the viral Dubai pistachio-chocolate pattern, the earthy, nutty profile of sesame is prepared for mainstream indulgence.
Lily mentioned: “Each black sesame and tahini provide wholesome fat and nutrient density, making them ultimate for enriching candy treats with extra balanced vitamin.”
5. Feelings change into flavour profiles
Foods and drinks manufacturers will more and more market merchandise by temper fairly than flavour, tapping into rising nervousness and sleep issues, particularly amongst Gen Z customers. Count on drinks named after emotional states corresponding to ‘Calm’, ‘Completely satisfied Tears’ or ‘A Large Hug’, alongside mood-enhancing elements.
Lily mentioned: “This pattern aligns with the rising understanding of the gut-brain axis, as customers search for meals that help each bodily and emotional wellbeing.”
6. Immunity
Immunity-focused meals will change into the subsequent main purposeful class. Count on the shift from ‘added protein’ to ‘added immunity’ with micronutrients, hint minerals and adaptogens designed to help post-pandemic wellness.
Lily mentioned: “Components corresponding to zinc, Nutritional vitamins C & D, and pre/probiotics present evidence-based methods to boost immune operate, a well timed and related transfer for health-conscious customers.”
7. Beef tallow
Beef tallow, as soon as a family staple, is making a culinary comeback. With its excessive smoke level and wealthy flavour, cooks will deliver tallow again into pastries, chips and elevated savoury dishes, boosted by the carnivore weight loss program pattern and declining curiosity in meat substitutes.
Lily mentioned: “Beef tallow is nice to make use of in cooking; it imparts a wealthy, deep savoury flavour that enhances the palatability of meals cooked with it and provides umami notes to a dish.”
8. Medicinal herbs
Components beforehand restricted to natural treatments: dandelion greens, nettles, purslane and holy basil will change into stars of pestos, soups, salads and dressings. Their pure health-giving properties faucet into the rising attract of consuming for wellbeing.
Lily mentioned: “These herbs are wealthy in nutritional vitamins A, C and Ok, making them highly effective additions for reinforcing micronutrient consumption.”
Lily added: “Who would have guessed sweetcorn ice cream could be on the menu for 2026? These developments are such a fantastic reminder that wholesome consuming may be thrilling and shocking. Subsequent yr is wanting extremely revolutionary, providing a contemporary likelihood for folks to discover new flavours and really feel good doing it.”
