It’s not easy getting to spend a day trying out the latest and greatest in plant-based eats, but someone has got to do it (and we’ll volunteer as tribute again and again!). Last week, we had the opportunity to visit Plant Based World Expo, where new and innovative companies came together to showcase their latest products and innovations in the evolving $11.3 billion market that is only expected to continue growing. Consumers are hungry for better-for-you options that are not only sustainable, cost-effective, and nutritious, but also taste delicious too. Below are some of our favorite trends and products we took note of at this year’s show.
“Cheesy” Innovations
- Like ice cream, the dairy-free cheese space has evolved quite a bit over the past several years - to the point where we can’t deny these are products you’ll want to eat, regardless of the type of diet you do or don’t follow. Armored Fresh introduced their new Mac & Cheese dinners made from oat milk, while Never Better Foods served up a bubbly, golden brown cheese quesadilla made from pea protein and sunflower seeds.
Clean Ingredient Staples
- Time to refresh your pantry staples? Don’t fret, we found some delicious options from brands that are grounded on simple, clean ingredients. Famiglia Crispino is bringing its family recipes to the US with ready-made sauces and antipasto options. To spice up your dishes, The Secret Ingredient has a wide variety of turmeric based dips and oils to add an infusion of flavor to any meal. For a new pasta staple, Buon Primo has a variety of risottos, lasagna and more – all ready in 2 minutes!
Frozen Meals Packed with Flavor
- Consumer interest in frozen plant-based meals has continued to grow, giving brands old and new an opportunity to get creative with flavor innovation to stand out in the freezer aisle. Paow! is curating new variations of its three ingredient plant-based protein including Korean BBQ, Curry and Harissa, while Asian-inspired meals were also popular with Myojo USA, bringing a fresh citrus spin to frozen ramen with a Yuzu flavor, and Konscious Foods is reimagining frozen sushi with a lineup of kimbap, sushi rolls, onigiri and more.
Fried Favorites
- Getting to eat indulgent fried food whenever the craving hits but also feeling less “guilty” about it because it’s plant-based? Amazing. We love everything Impossible Foods comes up with, but their corn dogs really hit the spot. Imposter, a new company based out of Troy, NY, also had delicious, dairy-free mozz sticks and jalepeño bites that we couldn’t get enough of.
Fruit-Infused Drinks
- If you’re anything like us, you love a midday pick-me-up beverage to get through the afternoon slump. Luckily, we uncovered some great options at the show – from Harmless Harvest’s refreshing coconut water (available in sparkling and flavored too!) and BUBALA’s fruit infused seltzer for a kick of flavor, to Swish’s unique canned mocktails (and canned cocktails, because it's happy hour somewhere!).
Sweet Treats
- We really had to pace ourselves when it came to all of the delicious sweet offerings at the show. Our favorite may have been Fabalish’s new Brownie Bites, which were deceivingly nutritious with hidden whole veggies in the recipe! BunnieCakes’ clean and allergen free Ready to Eat Cupcake Batters and Frosting make them a no-brainer for school birthday celebrations. 7th Heaven’s Oat Milk Peanut Butter Cups and Oatly’s Soft Serve Ice Cream are (dare we say it?) better than their dairy counterparts, offering a creamier, richer texture and delicious taste.