Food enthusiasts, professional chefs, and health experts share a passion for posting their culinary discoveries on social media, complete with trending hashtags. Drawing from a comprehensive analysis by a leading global social intelligence firm, we've uncovered the most buzzworthy food trends of 2018. If you're questioning the rise of veganism, these findings might surprise you—influencers buzzed more about vegan and gluten-free options than traditional vegetarian dishes.
Influencer mentions breakdown:
Vegan: 54%
Gluten-free: 24%
Vegetarian: 22%
The top five foods in influencer conversations—chicken, chocolate, cheese, cake, and salad—stand out amid veganism's prominence. Here's the full top 25 list, highlighting vegan items or those with popular vegan alternatives:
Chicken
Chocolate
Cheese
Cake
Salad
Eggs
Cream/Ice cream
Butter
Burgers
Sauce
Pasta
Garlic
Sugar
Pizza
Soup
Pork
Lemon
Bacon
Fish
Salmon
Avocado
Peanut butter
Cake
Broccoli
Zucchini
Over 50% of these favorites are inherently vegan or boast widely available vegan substitutes, proving the vegan lifestyle offers incredible variety—even for classics typically linked to meat or dairy.
