Our Q3 Trend Predictions

Between 4th of July barbecues, back to school season, Labor Day sales, and the possibility of a recession, Q3 is stuffed to the brim with opportunities for creative content. From time-saving dinners to modernized comfort food, here’s a closer look at what we think will be trending in Q3.

Back to busy

As back to school season looms, consumers are on the search for quick, simple, and healthy lunch and dinner options. Air fryers will stay strong, but slow cookers are gaining steam (sales are 96% YOY). Key searches will include:

Lunch box ideas
Easy weeknight meals
30 minute meal
Air fryer recipes
Slow cooker recipes
Sheet pan meals
Healthy vegetarian dinners

Making the most out of summer produce

Consumers are looking for easy ways to preserve their summer produce at its peak. Q3 is a great time to start featuring recipes using the following techniques:

Freezing
Canning
Pickling

Comfort food with a twist

Brands are putting a lot of focus on reimagining classic dishes for those with dietary restrictions and/or preferences, such as vegan, gluten-free, high-protein, and low-carb diets. Some topics that consumers are going to be especially interested this quarter in include:

Vegetarian/vegan BBQ ideas
Gluten-free pasta recipes
Dairy-free desserts
Low-carb casseroles
Vegan Instant Pot recipes

Plant-based products

Plant-based eating might not seem like a new trend, but it is still very much on the rise. Bloomberg predicts plant-based products will reach $162 billion in value by 2030, and food companies are jumping at the opportunity to meet this growing demand. A few plant-based products on the rise include:

Plant-based seafood, like salmon burgers from Good Catch
Plant-based low carb snacks, like veggie snacks from Root Foods
Even more milk alternatives, like sesame milk from Hope and Sesame

Mocktails > cocktails

Mocktails are the beverage industry’s latest it girl. Searches for non-alcoholic cocktail recipes are at an all time high this summer and we predict these tasty drinks will continue to gain popularity as we head into the holiday season. Trending searches among consumers are:

How to order a mocktail at a bar
Non-alcoholic liquor
Canned mocktails

Recession recipes

Talks of an impending recession are popping up all over social media right now, which might leave you wondering, “how does this affect the conversation around food?” In short, consumers will be looking for ways to stretch their dollar and feed their families without losing any flavor. Searches for the following topics are on the rise:

Budget-friendly foods
Meal prepping
Pantry meals
How to eat healthy on a budget
Couponing

Interested in reading more of CookIt’s trend reports? Click here to find out what we learned at Expo West, Tastemaker Conference, the Inspired Home Show, and the Fancy Food Show.