The food and beverage world is evolving fast—but not everything trending on TikTok deserves a spot on your menu. In a recent Roundtable session, Sonya Cooper, Senior Brand Strategist with Pavone Group’s food and beverage agency quench, shared highlights from the 2025 Food & Beverage Trends report.
Her focus? Helping senior living professionals distinguish between fleeting fads and meaningful trends with staying power. Through twelve insightful trend themes, Sonya explored how emerging consumer behaviors—driven by transparency, personalization, and sustainability—are shaping expectations and creating new opportunities for innovation in dining.
ADAPTIVE DINING IN SENIOR LIVING ENHANCES RESIDENT WELLNESS
Monitoring and responding to dining trends in senior living is crucial for enhancing resident satisfaction and well-being. By integrating trends like personalized nutrition and functional foods into meal programs, senior living facilities can cater to evolving dietary preferences and health needs, fostering a vibrant and health-focused dining experience.
CONSUMER TRENDS FOCUS ON TRANSPARENCY AND PERSONALIZATION
Modern consumers demand transparency about food sourcing and ethics, driving innovations in packaging and clear labeling. There’s a growing preference for clean labels and convenient, sustainable options like refilleries. Personalized nutrition, fueled by genetic testing and customizable meal kits, empowers consumers to tailor diets to their lifestyles. Additionally, the “Second Chance Foods” trend highlights sustainability by repurposing food waste, underscoring a commitment to environmental responsibility.
EMOTIONAL FOOD TRENDS
Today’s consumers are drawn to the emotional experiences food offers, inspired by social media’s global flavor exposure. “Snackification” leads eating habits with flexible snacking options, while “Culinary Passports” introduce diverse international flavors. The “Mini Revolution” offers convenient, portion-controlled mini items, and “Branded Fusion” boosts engagement through creative brand partnerships. “Experiential Dining” transforms meals into immersive experiences, with boomers particularly eager for adventure in dining.
PHYSICAL WELLNESS FOOD TRENDS
The “Body” category trends focus on the physical benefits of nutrition, adopting a holistic view of health beyond weight loss. “Gut Health” emphasizes the microbiome’s role, with Americans seeking gut-friendly foods across various categories. The “Appetite Adjustment” trend sees changes in eating habits due to GLP-1 drugs, pushing demand for nutrient-dense, low-calorie options. “Dream State” centers on enhancing sleep, with foods playing a role. Lastly, “Smart Sips” highlights the growth of functional beverages offering energy, immunity, and mental clarity.
Varsity’s Roundtable is a weekly virtual gathering of senior living marketers and leaders from across the nation. For updates about future weekly Roundtable gatherings, submit your name and email address here.
