# Cauliflower-Based Macaroni Meals Ark Foods Cauli Mac is a Plant-Based Alternative to Mac & Cheese By Katherine Pendrill | Published 2019-04-16 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cauli-mac References: [delish](https://www.delish.com/food-news/a27112916/whole-foods-cauliflower-mac-and-cheese/) & [arkfoods](https://www.arkfoods.com/products) For those looking to enjoy their favorite comfort food, but also pack more veggies into their diet, [Ark Foods](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ark-foods) Cauli Mac is the perfect solution. Now available at [Whole Foods](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/goodles-glutenfree), the tasty meal is not only on the healthy side, but also highly convenient for time-pressed consumers. Ark Foods Cauli Mac is a [plant-based pasta dish](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sunny-luna) made from fresh cauliflower florets and a vegan cheddar cheese made from cashews. According to the brand, the cashews give the cheese an "impossibly rich and creamy" texture "with a hint of smokiness." However, the best part is that the whole meal is microwavable and comes together in just one minute. As a result, it's the perfect single-serve meal for anyone following a plant-based diet who may not have time to cook. Image Credit: *Ark Foods.* ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.7/10 - Popularity: 50% | Activity: 54% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Plant-based Convenience Meals:** The trend of plant-based convenience meals is on the rise, providing convenient options for time-pressed consumers looking to incorporate more vegetables into their diet. - **Alternative Pasta Options:** Alternative pasta options, like cauliflower-based macaroni, are becoming popular as consumers seek healthier alternatives to traditional wheat-based pasta. - **Vegan Cheese Innovations:** The development of vegan cheese alternatives, such as cashew-based vegan cheddar, presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the dairy-free and plant-based food industries. ### Where This Applies - **Convenience Food:** The convenience food industry can capitalize on the growing demand for plant-based meals that are quick and easy to prepare. - **Alternative Food Products:** The alternative food products industry can benefit from the rising popularity of innovative pasta options that cater to health-conscious consumers. - **Dairy-free and Plant-based Foods:** The dairy-free and plant-based food industries can explore and expand their offerings by creating more flavorful and creamy vegan cheese alternatives. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Vegan-Friendly Macaroni Meal Cups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kraft-notmac-cheese-cups.md) - [High-Fiber Macaroni Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/goodwheat-1.md) - [Alternative Macaroni Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/natural-heaven.md) - [Grown-Up Macaroni Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/truffle-mac-and-cheese.md) - [Cauilflower-Based Frozen Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vegetable-based-pastas.md) - [Clean-Ingredient Macaroni Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/frozen-mac-and-cheese.md) - [Health-Conscious Macaroni Recipes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mac-cheese-product.md) - [Gourmet Dairy-Free Macaroni Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/daiya-deluxe-mac-cheeze.md) - [Cheesy Vegan-Friendly Pastas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kraft-mac-cheese6.md)