The food business is undergoing a massive transition that affects how we grow, purchase, eat, and think about food. Consumer preferences are being reshaped due to societal, environmental, and technological changes, and we’re here for it.

As consumers (or foodies), we are being fuelled by increased awareness of environmental issues and the ecological effects of food. The digitalised and conscious consumer is concerned about the consequences of their diet choices and expects more from their food.

Technological breakthroughs are upending the food system and changing the importance of food as a science, including recognising it as a medicine and a large contributing factor to health and nutrition. 

The desire for convenience and hyper-personalisation is expanding, as seen by the evolution of our food delivery system and the adoption of customised meal plans. As Middle Eastern food experts, Zahli Middle Eastern restaurant Sydney recognises this and knows best when it comes to food delivery, for both the environment and your tastebuds. 

1. Alternative proteins: As the need for substitutes for animal proteins grows, the protein sector is undergoing significant transformation. There are three categories of alternative proteins: insect/algae proteins, plant-based proteins, and cell-based proteins. Menu options such as our infamous hommos and mutabbal are great examples of how you can up your protein intake without the meat. 
2. Functional foods: Functional foods appeal to the development of wellness-focused diets, offering significant advantages to customers on both a mental and physical level, including faster cognitive capacities, sleep help, and improved sports performance. This means knowing what is in a dish, including nutrient-rich, chemical-free and locally sourced foods; total freshness. If this were a checklist, Zahli could check all the boxes as we select only the finest vegetable ingredients, locally grown, to include in our vast menu. 
3. Probiotics and fermented foods: Probiotic pills and fermented foods (living bacteria naturally present in the stomach) are becoming increasingly popular. The focus is on weight loss/obesity, digestive disorders, and the immunological system. As ranked by the U.S. News and World Report, the Mediterranean diet is rated the first best; that’s us! Our extensive use of fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes, potatoes, whole grains, herbs, spices, fish, seafood, and extra virgin olive oil means Zahli knows how to satisfy your diet. It also helps reduce the consumption of processed foods by packing your plate (or table) with these whole foods. 
4. Personalised nutrition: This outlook on nutrition outperforms the one-size-fits-all approach, with suggestions now being hyper-customisable based on genetic data gathered from saliva, blood, and stool samples. Our menu boasts of variety which means all can favour middle Eastern food. Our gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan menu options propose items based on individual preferences meaning no palate is left unsatisfied. 

The future of dining is right here, and it is looking bold. Many of our customers at Zahli Restaurant subscribe to at least one of these trends we discussed. As a Middle Eastern specific restaurant, we work diligently to cater to our time’s growing and changing needs.