Category
Lifestyle
Assisted Choices
Trend cluster
Category
Cheat Day
Culture
A sub-segment of foodies looks to hyper-indulge in a conscious way.
3.3
Trend score
Trend
What is the Cheat Day Culture trend?
Cheat Day Culture: Though eating indulgently is sometimes seen as a result of lack of food education, foodie consumers who see indulgence as an earned right not only consume calorie-laden food, but more extreme versions than their non-self aware counterparts. This points to a new form of health movement that is less aspirational and more lighthearted.
Trend themes
Themes within the Cheat Day Culture trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Indulgent Health Culture
Consumers who see indulgence as an earned right not only consume calorie-laden food but also healthy extreme versions. An opportunity for restaurants to offer novel, indulgent, and healthy menu options.
02
DIY Paleo Movement
People following paleo-inspired diets look to create alternative recipes, leading to a trend towards Paleo and vegan-friendly dishes, opening opportunities for specialized offshoots such as paleo bakeries.
03
Wild Food Creations
Celebrity chefs and DIY enthusiasts popularize dishes featuring unconventional and extreme flavor combinations, leading to more experimentation and taste-bud stretching creations, creating room for food fests and food trucks to highlight innovative culinary confections.
Industry implications
What the Cheat Day Culture trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Health Food Industry
A growing demand for healthier indulgent meals, inspires new niche markets of innovative recipes and food products.
For
Specialty Bakery Industry
DIY health food enthusiasts are driving the demand towards paleo and vegan-friendly dishes, creating opportunities for specialized offshoots such as paleo bakeries.
For
Celebrity Chef Industry
With the rise of experimental dishes in the culinary scene, celebrity chefs are an influential gateway towards unconventional taste sensations and emergent food trends.
Workshop question
While consumers seek to improve their lifestyles in numerous ways, how can your brand take an active role in the consumer desire for self-betterment while satisfying nonessential desires?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Cheat Day Culture
Trend score 3.3 out of 10, from popularity 49%, activity 42%, freshness 8%.
Popularity49%
Activity42%
Freshness8%
Audience
70%Men
30%Women
- Gen Alpha
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X (not a primary audience)
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Evidence
Examples of the Cheat Day Culture trend
6 featured examples from Apr 6, 2014 to Sep 30, 2016CategoryLifestyle
Trailblazing Doughnut Shops
Toronto's Glory Hole Doughnuts Serves Up Creative Flavor Combinations
Bakeries and pastry shops can capitalize on the trend towards creative flavor combinations to set themselves apart from competitors and appeal to new customers.
CategoryLifestyle
Paleo Cookie Pizzas
This Treat is a Healthier Alternative for a Decadent Dessert
The food and beverage industry can capitalize on the trend of paleo desserts by offering a variety of healthier treats that align with the paleo diet.
CategoryLifestyle
Celebratory Gargantuan Burgers
Dirigo Public House Honors One Year With a 100-Pound Beef Burger
Restaurants and eateries can capitalize on the trend of creating unique or massive food items to attract customers and generate media buzz on special occasions.
CategoryLifestyle
Sizzling Bacon Cannolis
This Bacon Cannoli in an Unexpected Indulgence for Your Taste Buds
Growing demand for unique and creative food offerings offers a disruptive innovation opportunity for new entrants to the industry.
CategoryPop Culture
Rapper-Made Food Oddities
Rapper Action Bronson Makes a Deep-Fried Chicken Burger with Ice-Cream
The culinary arts industry can embrace unconventional food items and experiment with unique flavors to cater to the growing demand of Millennials and Gen-Z.
CategoryLifestyle
Savory Bacon Cannolis
These Fried Italian Desserts are Filled with Crispy Meat for Added Crunch
Opportunity for restaurants and food brands to offer unique, innovative, and unconventional savory dessert options that cater to adventurous eaters.
