Becoming a Trendy 2023 Consumer
The TikTok food trends are fun and all but let's talk about ways we can efficiently purchase, consume, and waste food this year so that we can save the budget, the planet, and our ever-evolving moral compass.
1. Fight Inflation by shopping smarter.
Nothing is more American than sticking it to the man when he demands more of your hard earned money. Some technique in your shopping habits will definitely help, so I would suggest taking a quarter to Aldi and roaming the aisles or pay a visit to Trader Joe's. Private Label supermarket deals are also usually of great value (no pun intended). The days of embarrassment over coupons and off-brand items in the cart are over and we should all be tipping our hat to anybody saving money this way.
It's not always about where you shop, though! I always advise my clients to check out the larger cuts: Whole Chickens, Chuck Roasts, Whole Fillets of fish from Costco, etc. Also, stop buying pre-cut veggies and invest in a good knife. Breaking down your own proteins and veggies takes the labor load off of the supermarkets, in turn saving you money.
Oh, and your Keto Diet will love chicken skin crisps and beef tallow, so save the juices and the skin, rather than pitching them so you can optimize the amount of meals and snacks you get out of a food item. If you must waste, though...
2. Compost
If you live somewhere with a little infrastructure, there should be a local company that composts. Just throw your food scraps in a bucket and hand it over. Usually there is a compost return program too, where you can use your own compost to promote growth in your yard or garden. If you live out in the sticks, maybe send up a smoke signal or whatever y'all do to order this back yard composter from Amazon for 150 bucks. Compost is cool and makes you feel really trendy and young, so just do it and let me know how good your garden is doing.
3. Eating out Trends: Small Bites, Experiences, and Communal Tables
LOOK - I hate communal table situations. I spend most of my daily energy allowance on avoiding conversations with strangers and friends alike, but this trend is coming, so bring a friend to shield you from the talker that will likely sit next to you or work on your foreign language speaking skills for an easy-out.
On a cooler note, we at Tastify are really investing our time into experiential dining. This is a trend we are seeing everywhere between pop-ups, dinners in ice caves, food tours on public transit, and farm dinners. For the cost of an average date, you can have dinner and a show with lots of restaurants these days!
Lastly, Amuse Bouche has been cool for a long time, so find a tasting menu program near you and get ahead of this trend, before the Social Influencers ruin it.
