8 months ago
2025 Food Trends: Solo Dining, Health Movements, and More
In 2025, there are some exciting new food trends.
More people, especially young adults, are enjoying dining out alone.
Health advocates are pushing for natural foods like beef tallow and cane sugar, and big companies are listening.
Protein is everywhere, from pasta to potato chips.
Cow's milk is making a comeback, and Southeast Asian cuisines are becoming more popular.
There are also some weird food combinations, like Pepsi with Peeps candy.
Lastly, matcha, a type of green tea, is super popular in the U.S., but people are adding lots of sweeteners, which might not be what the tea ceremony monks intended.
Solo dining is on the rise, with 49% of Gen Zers eating out alone at least once a week.
The 'Make America Healthy Again' movement is influencing food choices, with a focus on natural ingredients.
Protein is being added to a wide range of foods, from pasta to potato chips.
Cow's milk sales are increasing, reversing a long trend, and alt-milk sales are declining.
Southeast Asian cuisines are gaining recognition, with several restaurants earning awards and accolades.
- Who
- Consumers, especially Gen Zers, health advocates, and food enthusiasts
- What
- Emerging food trends in 2025, including solo dining, health movements, protein trends, cow's milk comeback, Southeast Asian cuisine, unusual flavor combos, and matcha boom
- Where
- United States, with mentions of specific cities and restaurants
- When
- 2025
- Why
- Changing consumer preferences, health movements, and cultural influences
Key facts
- Solo Dining
- 49% of Gen Zers dine out alone at least once a week
- Health Movement
- MAHA Girls and Culture Apothecary promote beef tallow, cane sugar, and natural foods
- Protein Trend
- Protein is now marketed in various foods, from pasta to potato chips
- Cow's Milk
- Sales of dairy milk are rising, reversing a long trend
- Southeast Asian Cuisine
- Filipino, Cambodian, Hmong, Vietnamese, and Laotian restaurants gained recognition
- Flavor Combos
- Unusual food collaborations include Pepsi with Peeps and Chunky soup with Pabst Blue Ribbon
- Matcha Boom
- Matcha is now used in lattes, cookies, and even KitKats, causing shortages in Japan
Quotes
Darron Cardosa
A waiter and contributor to Food & Wine
“As a longtime waiter, I can guarantee that your server does not care at all. Embrace your solitude and enjoy a meal with just yourself.”
theweek.com
Maha Tahiri
A food and wellness consultant
“Food is the only bipartisan issue we have. This is really a moment if we play it well.”
theweek.com
Caroline Tien
A health expert and writer for Self
“Treating protein as a holy grail of health ignores the fact that your body’s needs are complex and nuanced. Your diet should reflect that.”
theweek.com
Ashliene McMenamy
A writer for Bon Appétit
“After a decade of restriction and replacement, milk feels nourishing and subversive.”
theweek.com
Jaya Saxena
A writer for Eater
“Absurdity is fun, but I don’t want to drizzle it on my pizza.”
theweek.com
Frances Giangiulio
A writer for Salon
“Sure, let’s sip our strawberry matcha lattes, but maybe, while we’re sipping, we can remember the farmers who picked the leaves and the monks who first whisked them into something more.”
theweek.com
