You know what I and many other food truck diners don’t want to see any more? Salted Caramel. We will even toss in Sriracha for that matter. Don’t get me wrong, both of these are great ingredients that I enjoy tasting in food truck dishes. But the constant food media overhyping of these ingredients has weakened their appeal for many consumers. Which begs the question: What is the point of saturation for trendy ingredients and when do they begin to lose their market appeal?

On the other side of the argument, when does an ingredient have enough pull to attract curious consumers to your food truck service window?

When To Use Trendy Ingredients

Do you keep up to date with the latest food trends? If you’re looking to attract foodies you certainly should be. The food truck industry is fast moving, so to stay ahead you need to make sure you jump on trends quickly, but drop them when demand starts to drop.

Adding the latest trendy ingredients to your food truck menu before your competitors can give you the edge to stand out from the crowd. Not only will you win the business of trend following customers, but you’ll also be able to charge higher premium prices.

So what are the items we’ve seen on food truck menus that we wish more would include? Which ingredients and menu items do we want more accessible across the country? And which ingredients don’t we want to see as part of a truck’s differentiation statement; even if we don’t mind them showing up on menus?

Trendy Ingredients That Have Stuck Around

  • Authentic tacos
  • Ramen
  • Rice bowls
  • Curry
  • Fish besides salmon and tilapia
  • Anything Korean
  • Lentils
  • Spinach
  • Farm to truck menus

Trendy Ingredients On The Way Out

  • Avocado on everything
  • Bacon in desserts
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Quinoa
  • Blue cheese as a premium option
  • Kale in only salads
  • Fancy cheese on pizza

RELATED: What Food Trends Mean For Your Food Truck

The Bottom Line

Don’t become one of the many food trucks that uses trendy ingredients to to differentiate yourself from the competition. These trends come and go, and if you rely on them to separate your truck from others, you risk losing business when the trends are over.

What other trendy ingredients do you use and which do you avoid? Share your thoughts on this topic on social media. Facebook | Twitter