The Food Channel presents its Top Ten Side Dish Trends. The list is based on research conducted by The Food Channel in conjunction with CultureWaves®, the International Food Futurists®, and Mintel International. Here are the trends we see for what’s happening on the side. Side dishes are front and center right now! Health consciousness has contributed to the craze—it’s now acceptable to order a variety of delicious sides and downsize the meat. And, in a hurting economy, anything that stretches the meal is in high favor. The rise in ethnic influences, regional dishes, and fresh seasonal availability has all influenced the trend. In response, restaurants and at-home cooks are all giving more space to sides than ever before. In fact, we’re calling sides the new “center of the plate.”