5 Worst Food Trends People Followed In 2023
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2023 has witnessed several food trends come and go. Some of them lit up the curiosities and led people to try it at home, while the others left everyone to question, “Who can even think of doing this to food?"

Not every food trend gains popularity because people want to try it independently. The influencers and restaurants sometimes stretch it and make it a custom while unnecessarily repeating it numerous times to gather attention. What is stuck in the memory is the experiment with odd pairs of ingredients which were claimed to go well with each other, and are being adapted in several restaurants around the world.

From adding olive oil to coffee drinks to making plant-based eggs, these food trends garnered a lot of attention on social media not because they were unique, but for being interestingly weird. While several netizens were taken away by curiosity, others critically cancelled it. Here is a list of the top 7 worst food trends that ruled 2023.

1. Olive Oil In Coffee

This was a new take on the butter coffee trend that emerged in the late 2010s, which fitness enthusiasts and ketogenic diet freaks primarily preferred. This trend was particularly popular for those seeking to include healthy fats in their coffee. However, the 2023 trend of olive oil coffee, which shares similarities by including healthy fats in coffee, falls short of expectations. Unlike the buttery coffee, olive oil fails to impart the exact taste and richness in the coffee.

Instead of allowing each ingredient to present its unique characteristics and complement each other, this coffee brew left a displeasing impression on the ones who tried it. Described as a bitter, oily drink, it coats the palate with an unappealing slickness and leaves behind an unpleasant aftertaste. 

2. Using Food Waste For Aesthetics

With sustainable eating being the hype for most years, using food waste as aesthetics was the most concerning. For making the most engaging videos, influencers often waste a lot of food to present this idea of using waste for aesthetics to their audience. Those following this trend focus more on how things appear rather than fixing the big problem of too much food being thrown away. This trend might make it seem like using food waste for decoration is okay, but it doesn't solve the real issue. If one only cares about making things look nice with food waste, one might forget to work on important ways to stop making so much waste in the first place.

3. Pickle drinks

The recent trend of making pickle drinks has garnered mixed reactions, with some considering it an unappealing combination. This odd combination of using pickles in drinks was more health-concerning than just being weird.

Some people are mixing pickle juice into drinks like cocktails. Some like the tangy taste, but others think it's not a good mix. Pickle juice has a strong flavour that might not go well with regular drinks and it's high in salt, which might not be healthy for everyone. Some say it's better to respect different tastes instead of trying odd combinations that might not be enjoyable for most people.y

4. Plant-based chicken and eggs

With the insurgence of vegan food trends, the trend of making plant-based chicken and eggs sparked conversations and divided people into opinions. Critics argued that while plant-based alternatives offer vegan-friendly options, some variations of plant-based chicken and eggs may lack the taste, texture, or nutritional value of traditional meats and eggs.

Now, what is the point of going vegan if switching to plant foods is challenging? These alternatives to imitating poultry products match the flavour, differ in cooking properties, and can't be replaced by traditional meats and eggs.

While accommodating dietary preferences might be a positive change, some say replicating eggs entirely might not be the best approach. Due to the fact that replicating these items can include heavy processing and the use of artificial substances, it's much better to stick to normal meat and eggs than plant-based processed alternatives.

5. Over-the-Top Food Hybrids

Several outrageous food hybrids also emerged in 2023. With creations like making sushi burritos and pizza doughnut combos, along with taco pizza mashups, took everyone's attention during the year. While some claimed to have enjoyed it, others felt it was unappealing and the fusions of the tastes didn’t go well. These unnecessary fusions reached a massive audience and are now featured in several restaurant menus offering a unique feast option. Some say these trends, while being an interesting take on some dishes, can alter the original dish's authenticity and make people forget about the original flavours in the coming years.

Image Credit: Pexels

While bidding goodbye to the odd culinary fads that shaped 2023, it's important to remember that food really is a source of pleasure, nutrition, and cultural importance. The takeaways from these trends serve as a reminder that, although innovation is good, it must always be tempered with judgment and consideration for the basic elements that contribute to food's appeal to all people.