Aussies wants more health-concsious food on the menu

Meanwhile, vegan and plant-based meals have declined for the third time.

Australians are increasingly prioritising health-conscious foods, driving demand for specific menu items and dining practices expected to shape consumer preferences in 2026, according to a Lightspeed report.

“Health-conscious menu choices—such as low-sugar and high-protein options—recorded the strongest overall demand, narrowly ahead of sustainable food options. The demand, however, is not evenly distributed, with divergences appearing across age groups,’ the report said.

Demand peaked amongst Baby Boomers (34%) and remained strong amongst Millennials (30%), before tapering through Gen X (28%), the Silent Generation (24%) and reaching its lowest point with Gen Z (12%).

Sustainable food sourcing has consistently ranked amongst the top two practices customers want venues to adopt in recent years.

Meanwhile, demand for vegan or plant-based items began to dip, from 13% in 2024 to 9% in 2026.