2026 is the year of the cabbage: Layers and layers of flavor

In 2026, food trends are set to see the continuation of healthy eating that started taking off in the second half of 2025. So many food trends have been popping up: Food for gut health, skin health, hangover cures, mental well-being, fibermaxxing, functional beverages, regenerative eating, low carb and high protein dishes, and more. In the light of all these trends, it’s not a surprise that the underrated cabbage is gaining popularity. As a “health powerhouse” cabbage sits in the middle of all these trends, and for good reason too. 

Cabbage is already named the vegetable of 2026

Cabbage is a multi-faceted kitchen star. The rise in fermented foods, fiber focused diets, and clean eating will surely make use of what the good old cabbage has to offer. Insider food has declared the arrival of this new year for cabbage in an Instagram post already, and the buzz is already catching up. 

It also makes perfect sense for cabbage to obtain this popularity in recession times, where eating clean is combined with eating cheap, and yet again, cabbage ticks both boxes. The post also states that fiber will be the new protein, which consumers will look forward to having more and more of in their fibermaxxing diets.