The frugal foodie

"Not surprisingly, the majority of the 2009 trends have a 'value' message, reflecting the downturn in the economy and how the lifestyle around food is affected," Kate Logsdon, editor of The Food Channel, said in a news release.

Top 10 food trends

1. Goodbye Restaurants - and Hello Home on the Range. With the downsized economy more people will cut back on dining out, especially in the midscale and fine dining restaurants, the study found. But for knowledgeable foodies, cooking and eating at home won't necessarily mean a sacrifice on taste or food savvy. Not to mention that cooking from scratch offers a healthy change from restaurant and prepared foods that are often high in fat.

And more kudos to the Crockpot: Slow-cooked dishes continue to be popular as they're big on convenience and flavour, while also being wallet-friendly. (For recipe ideas, see Slow-cooked soups.)

2. Cool culinary communities. Foodies will continue to seek inspiration from cooking classes, TV cooking shows and online sites. Virtual communities also include food blogging sites, Twitter exchanges and iPhone apps related to food. Something else to look out for: Wii and other cooking gaming vehicles that are both fun and instructional.

And of course, not all communities are virtual. More people are rediscovering potluck meals as a fun, convenient and more affordable way to entertain.

3. Green is good. The buzzword in kitchens is eco-conscious whether it's through new ways to compost waste or more energy efficient appliances, smart equipment and automated cooking. Green thumb? Growing food, such as herbs, in your kitchen is also increasingly popular. For more on the eco-conscious trend, see Going green can save you green.