ON THE MENU: F d is Medicine

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Cultures have focused on using food as medicinal solutions for thousands of years. The pandemic escalated this concept in the U.S., as consumers turned to food for mood enhancement, anti-inflammation benefits, detoxes, and more. Valerie Hoover, Registered Dietitian at Sysco, said, “We all have heard the expression, ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away.’ Today, ‘food as medicine’ is no longer thought of as a prescribed diet; it’s a way of life.”

Serve menu options that meet customers’ varied dietary needs and lifestyle choices, including vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian, and gluten-free and list these call-outs on your menu.

Highlight healthy halo ingredients that consumers attribute with immunity and overall health, such as citrus fruits, turmeric, ginger, green tea, specialty honey, mushrooms, chia seeds, and gut-healing fermented foods.

Experiment with ethnic dishes containing various healing herbs and spices. Start with North African cuisine as seen in our next trend!