Fiber is the next protein: social mentions up 66% as hearty, savory dishes drive interest
Fiber mentions on social media rose 66% and engagement more than doubled to 5.4 million, per Datassential's Social Listening Quarterly report. Protein still leads, with mentions up 57% and chain launches carrying protein callouts up 245% in the first half of 2026. Fiber's growth comes from hearty, center-of-plate cooking such as savory oatmeal and cabbage stir fries, not health-food framing, and Datassential says better menu labeling and callouts could connect diners to fiber-rich items.
Why it matters for directors: Diners want fiber but rarely see it called out on menus, so labeling is a cheap way to sell what you already serve. Try this: add 'high fiber' callouts to two existing bean, grain or cabbage dishes and test a savory oatmeal bowl at breakfast.
Original source: Datassential ↗