Brits Love Free-From Food More Than Pizza

Gluten-free, dairy-free, carb-free, meat-free – you name it-free, Brits are going mad for it.

Free-from has been named as the top food trend of 2017 so far by food insight experts CGA, the Morning Advertiser reports. This has partly been driven by greater awareness of food intolerances over the past few years, but also by more people adopting a diet that’s free from certain ingredients as they think it’ll boost their health.

In many cases, there aren’t actually any health benefits to following a gluten or dairy-free diet if you don’t have a medically-diagnosed intolerance, but this isn’t stopping Brits from expecting to see free-from dishes as standard on restaurant menus and free-from ingredients on supermarket shelves.

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Second place went to chicken. Is chicken a trend? We’re not sure it can be classed under that title, but it’s an ever-popular and hugely versatile meat, so we guess this is why it ranks so highly.

Small plates came next, as tapas-style dining has broken out of its Spanish origins and can now be found on all kinds of menus. Small plates are a great way to introduce diners to different foods and flavours, but they do have to be willing to share, which we know a lot of you aren’t!

Next on the list was superfoods, followed by veggie food. Technically, this could link with the free-from trend, as a growing number of people are trying to follow a meat-free diet for either their health or animal welfare-related reasons.

Indian street food was named as the sixth biggest trend of the year so far. The UK has long been barmy for bhajis and crazy for curries, but the rise of food festivals and #InstaFood is fuelling the popularity of street food.

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Seventh place went to food waste and sustainability – not something we can literally get our teeth into, but a cause more Brits are becoming conscious of all the same.

Vegan food came next in the rankings, again reflecting people’s growing desire for free-from dishes, as this is a meat-free, dairy-free form of dining.

Number nine on the list is barbecue-style food. Whether it’s smoky barbecue marinades or actual outdoor grilling, Brits can’t get enough of the old BBQ, it seems.

Tenth place went to pizza. Again, is pizza a trend? More of a diet staple for some. But does it really matter? All you need to know is everyone likes pizza. Pizza rules.

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The final two trends on the list were cheaper meat cuts and Scandinavian and Nordic cuisine, occupying 11th and 12th place respectively. The UK has loved Indian, Chinese and Mexican food for years, so it’s great to see some other international influences creeping on to our plates. Think thick creamy yoghurt, meatballs and even reindeer – maybe just not all at the same time!

It’s great to see foodies making a conscious effort to reduce food waste and the amount of money they’re spending on food. It’s also brilliant that so many people are trying to make their diets healthier with less dairy and meat, and more vegan and veggie food.

And as for chicken and pizza? We can’t see them ever straying too far from Brits’ plates anytime soon.