The food industry saw a multitude of major trends that spawned new businesses and new business models throughout the decade. Here we highlight ten of the biggest food trends that dominated the 2010’s.

Avocado Toast

The health benefits of avocados caused a major breakfast and brunch trend with avocado toast.  Everyone put their own spin on it by adding different veggies and toppings, making for a delicious and healthy morning treat.

Bacon Everything

Everyone loves bacon and it made its way into almost everything over the course of the last decade. Bacon ice cream, maple bacon donuts, chocolate covered bacon and deep-fried bacon all had their time in the spotlight.

Cauliflower Substitute

Cauliflower as a substitute for mashed potatoes, pizza crust and rice is a craze that continues to this day. With all of the low carb diets out there, cauliflower has allowed dieters to enjoy their favorite dishes without all the calories.

Whole Lotta’ Kale

Kale is a superfood and provides a myriad of health benefits. Kale has been added to nearly everything including salads, casseroles, soups and smoothies. Expect more of the same over the next decade.

Pumpkin Spice

The moment the fall season hits, pumpkin spice everything takes center stage. Coffee, ice cream, candy, pastries and nearly everything else now has a pumpkin spice option. With its popularity and seasonal availability, consumers will continue to swoon over pumpkin spice.

Gourmet Donuts

Going against the decades primarily healthy trends, gourmet donuts exploded in the 2010s. A wide variety of toppings were made available and entire businesses were built on these sweet treats.  There’s even a gold flake topped donut for the high-end donut consumer.

Cake Pops

Cake pops were absolutely huge for a couple of years toward the end of the decade. They were a must have at any celebration all the way from kid’s parties to wedding receptions. While their popularity has dwindled a bit, they are still big business.

Meal Kits

For time strapped consumers looking for fresh, healthy meals, meal kits were a major revelation during the 2010’s. They helped bring families and couples together during the cooking process, while allowing those with relatively few kitchen skills to create gourmet meals.

Instant Pot

Instant pots cornered the slow cooker/crockpot market for much of the decade. These machines made it easy for busy parents and those with tough work schedules to create full meals in a fraction of the time compared with traditional cooking methods.

Keto Diet

There were several popular diets during the 2010’s and perhaps the biggest was the Keto diet. Keto involves consuming a high percentage of fat and protein with almost no carbs. Those that have adopted and stuck with the diet swear by the results.