Showing posts with label food allergies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food allergies. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Food and Dining Trends for 2012

A new year brings new food and dining trends.  The forecasts for 2012, compiled from lists by Allrecipes.com the National Restaurant Association, and the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association predicts the following trends:

Sandwiches are on tap to become one of the top comfort foods of the year grilled cheese sandwiches in particular, look for restaurants to develope signature combinations.
Crazy cocktails in which liquor is infused with flavors of food.

Mini-desserts will move out of the bakery case as home bakers discover the lure of little bites.
Potatoes are hot, with French fry menus that let guests choose the cut and crispness, and make-your-own mashed potato mix-ins.

Look for more vegetables used in desserts, far beyond the humble carrot cake.
Indian street foods will gain popularity through food trucks, pop-ups and quick-service restaurants.

Some Chefs will experiment with the flavors of the forests, using subtle infusions of pine needles, Douglas fir and eucalyptus to flavor sauces, rubs, meats, jus and broths.
Meatballs and more meatballs will appear with different ethnic interpretations on menus.

Appetizers will have more adventurous flavors, on the theory that consumers consider them less of a commitment or risk than ordering something unfamiliar for their entrée.
Desserts will find reposition from being an after-dinner option to a way for customers to treat themselves any time of day.

Long await more Nutritious kids' menus.
The grocery store shelves will be over flowing with gluten-free and food allergy-conscious items.

 Artisan ice cream
"Heirloom" will replace "artisanal" as the most overused food term.

Discover more foods to clean out arteries, or more technically, reduce oxidized LDL cholesterol.
Try the new fruit in town: Pluerry, a hybrid fruit combination of a plum and cherry

Coming to America soon, Fat taxes. Taxes that are a growing trend in Europe, where governments seek to push consumers away from unhealthy foods high in fat, sugar and salt content.
Hydration stations will respond to the movement to cut the use of plastic and ban the sale of bottled water. Look for them first on college campuses, where people can fill reusable bottles.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Count Down to Thanksgiving!

The festive part of the year is approaching us quickly. Have you begun planning your holiday menu yet? Now is a great time to start if you have not thought about your holiday meal. Nor is it too early to plan other upcoming  holidays like Chanukah , Christmas or Kwanza meals.

First on the agenda should be the menu. If the meal is a collaborative effort of family and friends,then deciding who will be preparing what from appetizers to desserts should be made very soon. Also do not forget to delegate who will be bringing the beverages.

In planning the menu please remember to keep those with special diets such as food allergies, diabetics, and vegan/ vegetarians in mind. Finding out any special dietary requirements in advance gives you the opportunity to plan and prepare dishes that everyone could enjoy at the dinner table.  The people with the special diet would be appreciative of the advance consideration and feel included in the festive dining experience.

Fall is a good time to try something new.
The fruits and vegetables that are in season now are:
Apples, artichokes, avocado, beets, bok choy, broccoli,
brussels sprouts, cabbage
carrots, cranberries, celeriac, chard, chestnuts, Greens, cranberries, daikon, fennel, guava, kiwi
kumquat, lemons, oranges, pears, persimmons, pomegranate, potatoes, quince
rutabaga,  turnips and variety of fall and winter squash

Many of these fresh fruits and vegetables are grown locally. We will be featuring recipes for side dishes in upcoming posts.

With higher food prices and slim budgets in mind take advantage of the Supermarkets: Free turkey, Ham or Lasagna giveaways! When a certain dollar amount has been spent with in the free turkey campaign time frame, a turkey, ham or lasagna is earned. Some stores offer different products so check the weekly circulars for the giveaway campaign that suits your needs. If you shop at different stores you may be eligible to win a free item from each store patronized. Most stores only allow the customer to earn one item within the time period regardless of the amount spent over the set goal.

During this time of year “good” coupons are more bountiful. I state “good” because these are more likely for items you may actually want to purchase and the value of the coupon does not require you to purchase more than one item to reap the benefit.

If holiday meal planning and cooking is overwhelming for you, consider using a Personal Chef for your meal preparations. Meal Makers, Inc. is available to help you by preparing your holiday meals or working with you to prepare your meal.  Contact us for more information mealmakersinc@gmail.com