Save A Lot Unveils Top Food Trends for 2021
Discount grocery chain analyzed sales data and existing third-party information to uncover the hottest food trends for 2021
ST. LOUIS (Jan. 6, 2021) — Save A Lot, one of the largest discount grocery store chains in the United States, today announced the top six food trends to hit the shelves in 2021. By analyzing nutrition ideals and using existing third-party information, Save A Lot highlights the upcoming most popular foods as well as consumer behavior trends to come. Trends include: customized convenience, using culinary technology and appliances, an uptick in yogurt consumption, demystifying plant based food and protein, the versatility of chickpeas and legumes and heart-healthy eating.
Save A Lot believes that everyone should have access to fresh, high quality food options. No matter the neighborhood, Save A Lot offers everyday low prices on great tasting, high quality private label brands as well as on national brand products, USDA-inspected meat that is cut fresh in store, farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, and other non-food items. More than 60% of products Save A Lot carries are private label brands that match the quality of leading national brands, meaning customers enjoy significant savings on the products they buy every day.
“At Save A Lot, we’re always looking for the best way to provide the freshest, most affordable, products to our consumers and the local communities where we operate,” said Holly Faivre, Save A Lot’s Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist. “We are able to do this by analyzing nutrition ideals and industry standards—which helped us shape our predictions for 2021. We’re seeing consumers making more conscious decisions of what they’re consuming and choosing healthier options when grocery shopping.”
From new culinary technology to a pantry stacked with chickpeas, Save A Lot is here to help consumers navigate these 2021 food trends:
Yogurt Boom
Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack foods are about to get a whole lot creamier. What does that mean? Yogurt for all! Whether you’re spooning it, drinking it, or adding it to marinades, dressings, sauces and dips, there are endless options for flavorful ways to use yogurt.
How to use it:
- Fruit and Yogurt Pops
- Berry Breakfast Parfait
- Green Island Smoothie
- Salmon Cakes
- Caramelized Onion Dip
Legume Craze
When people hear chickpeas or beans, they often think of hummus or baked beans; but these tiny seeds are so much more. Packed with protein and fiber, these versatile legumes are a healthy way to enjoy sweet or savor snacks and meals without breaking the calorie bank.
How to use it:
- Black Bean Burger
- Bean Soup
- Roasted Veggie and Hummus Naanwich
- Chickpea Salad
- Italian Lentil Salad
Demystifying Plant-Based Eating
Calling all vegans, vegetarians, vegetable enthusiasts, and plant-based eating skeptics — you do not need to eat branded plant-based protein to get a healthy, daily value of nutrients. In 2021, more consumers than ever will experiment with plant-based eating, learning how to combine complimentary plant proteins for more nutritionally complete (and delicious!) dishes. Legumes, grains and vegetables all have different types of protein that, when combined in specific ways, create a complete protein profile that is comparable to the protein profile found in meat—so your body won’t miss out on any of the proteins that it needs. See below for a chart that outlines complementary plant proteins and recipes for incorporating them into your diet.
FOOD COMPLEMENT WITH
Beans Grains, nuts, seeds
Grains Legumes
Nuts/Seeds Legumes
Vegetables Grains, nuts, seeds
Corn Legumes
How to use it:
- Roasted Veggie and Hummus Naanwich
- Three Sisters Tacos (sweet potato, corn & black bean)
- Grilled Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich
- Black Bean Burger
Culinary Technology
Can anyone say Air Fryer Season? Free-standing appliances, such as air fryers, Instant Pots and slow cookers make cooking your favorite meals, crispier, faster and easier. An air fryer cooks at higher temperatures to mimic the browning of deep-frying, using teaspoons of oil to get the same fried effect. Instant Pot is a pressure cooker and slow cooker combined that allows you to “slow cook” a roast or make an easy sauce in 1/8 of the time. Slow cookers are the perfect appliance to throw in whatever you have lying around in your pantry and fridge and put on when you wake up for a delicious, easy, one-pot meal to feed the whole family. In 2021, people will make their lives crispier, easier and healthier with more free-standing appliance meals.
How to use it:
- Air fried Potato Chip Chicken Strips
- Slow Cooked Shredded Pineapple Pork Tacos
- Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs
- Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
- Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken
- Slow Cooker BBQ Pork Chops
- Slow Cooker Corned Beef
- Slow Cooker Italian Shredded Beef Sandwiches
Customized Convenience
At-home meal consumption has grown exponentially over the last eight months and we are all looking for more convenient and healthy ways to feed our families. Home cooks everywhere will look to hacks to help them spend less time and money on meals in 2021.
How to use it:
- Jade Dragon Asian Cuisine
- Market Selections
- So Cheezy
- Portside Seafood
- Grissom’s Everyday Baking
Heart Healthy Eating
With health being at the forefront last year, we expect more people to look for ways to improve their eating habits. Think lean meats and fishes, lots of vegetables and lower carbs and sugar in 2021. As consumers look for more heart healthy products, Save A Lot has recipes and ingredients that fit the bill without breaking the bank.
How to use it:
- Grilled Lemon Pepper Cod
- Lemon Grilled Chicken Breasts
- Honey Teriyaki Salmon
- Tuna & Avocado Bowls
- Surimi Ceviche
- Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa
For more information on Save A Lot, to find recipes, or locate your nearest store, visit www.savealot.com.
