According to many leading dietitians and restaurant trend prognosticators, protein will be a highly sought out food category in 2013, however, its role on menus will need to evolve to meet consumer preferences. First, with so many people eliminating animal proteins from their diets, more vegetarian sources of protein like beans, peas and lentils should be highlighted on menus. Second, for the many consumers who still want their animal proteins, they will prefer smaller, more flavorful and more creatively prepared portions. Finally, more and more consumers will want to try less common meats like bison, elk and ostrich which they are unlikely to make at home.

Click here to read A Better Era for Healthy Menus, a short article about this emerging protein trend as part of a larger consumer movement.