Today's Top Food, Health and Nutrition Trends

2020 has indeed brought difficulties and changed the lives of people all over the world. Our daily habits and behavior have changed dramatically. With the pandemic, people's priorities have also changed, with many taking a renewed focus on their well-being and health, including the food they eat. Thus, food and health culture changed.

 

There have been changes in this 2021, with many industry experts expecting major changes. So, when it comes to food and nutrition, what is kept in this year and maybe next year?

 

Today's Top Food, Health and Nutrition Trends

'Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food'. The essence of this statement is true nowadays - eat foods that nourish you physically and mentally. Due to the large impact of Covid-19 on the mental and physical health of many people, there is increasing interest in eating healthy food.

 

Homemade Cooking & Meal Kit

COVID-19 stay orders and government restrictions on restaurant operations have given people the opportunity to learn to cook and eat with their families. Many people have accepted these changes and realized that cooking at home builds confidence in their kitchen. It has also become a source of pleasure rather than a burden.

Mail order food and kits have also become a part of the trend. Pandemic has taught that cooking at home can be a pleasant and fun experience. Yet, as life picks up again, there will be a trend toward health-food boxes and pre-made meal kits that still save time, yet enable healthy eating from home. Over the past year, meal kit delivery services have grown rapidly, thanks to their convenience, hygiene and affordability.

 

It is estimated that the food kit delivery industry will reach $ 20 billion by 2027. Most people love meal kit delivery services because most of the preparation work, such as measurement, grocery shopping, and harvesting, is already done. And, most of these companies focus on sustainable practices, local food, and cater to different food diets and preferences.

 

Environmentally friendly food practices

Echoing the benefits of localism, dietary changes are expected and will include more sustainable, environmentally friendly food practices. Instead of debating some extremes, such as vegetarian and meat-eaters, most will focus on foods with minimal climate impact. For example, the diet may include low animal product intake but should not be eliminated.

Instead, consumers may opt for animal products with a lower footprint, such as changing beef to chicken or eating several plant-based foods each week. In addition, consumers can choose to buy locally grown products and animal-based products to reduce carbon emissions that result from long-distance food delivery.

 

Change in neutral-ground approach

The days of extremes are over for many people. This year a major change is taking place in the middle of the road.

Convincing a meat eater to be a vegetarian is a huge achievement, but it can be easy to meet them somewhere in between. Emphasis is increasing in the direction of reducing animal product intake. It is interesting to note that 60 percent of millennials are willing to adopt the Flexitarian diet based on a study by Statista.

 

Consumers can change several meat meals each week to a plant-based one. They can optionally reduce the share of animal products in their dishes, and add more plant-based ingredients. Companies can continue to promote plant-based products, but develop products with higher plant-based ingredients, and reduce animal-based products to help consumers find a middle ground.

 

Convenience and transparency

As the world continues to evolve, the way people enjoy eating is changing. Although convenience foods have been around for some time, the healthiness and quality of these foods are becoming more important, and brands are expected to be more transparent when it comes to their practices and ingredients.

Many people are fed up with false, obscure and misleading information. Food and health companies have been very secretive about their ingredients and practices in the past. In addition, most people make health claims without any scientific evidence.

 

As consumers become more interested in nutritional quality, there is an increasing expectation that brands should be transparent, clear and honest on their products. They are expected to use the trend by providing a list of ingredients that are understandable and concise and avoid using controversial ingredients such as artificial flavors, colors and shades.

 

Family Nutrition

Adults are not just interested in fine-tuning their diet but also looking for healthier supplements and food options for the whole family.

With more kids staying home and attending virtual schooling, parents now are tasked with making lunches rather than relying on school cafeterias. To better the family health, most parents look for products that not only children enjoy but nutritious as well.

 

Furthermore, children's supplements could be used as added protection to support the immune system and avoid nutritional deficiencies, particularly for children who are picky eaters. Expect more demand for plant-based alternatives for children to support their well-being and health.

 

Daily Breakfast Habit

In the past, students and working adults rush to their schools or workplaces without eating the most important meal of the day - breakfast. Since everyone is now studying and working remotely, there is more time for them to prepare and eat breakfast regularly at home without worrying about the morning rush and commute time.

Focus on Reducing Weight

In 2020, many people gained weight due to the pandemic. Staying at home made them eat more comfort foods and practice lazy eating habits. There is a lack of physical movement and sugar has contributed to emotional eating. In 2021, people will focus on ways to lose weight so that they feel increased self-esteem and put more emphasis on healthy, realistic, and sustainable weight loss.

Many are tired of costly diets and supplement gimmicks promising big results but fail to deliver. Today, weight loss programs and restrictive diets plunge as people seek a more balanced health approach instead. Credits to more health and nutrition professionals growing big audiences on social media, we're beginning to see popular-albeit bogus supplements becoming outdated.

 

Shift Towards Natural, Whole Foods

Additionally, more people are embracing eating styles that welcome foods in moderation, since most are not keen on avoiding chocolates for the rest of their lives. People are beginning to embrace other important food aspects, including culture, tradition, and enjoyment.

Consumers seek products from brands that strive for affordable, nonrestrictive, and sustainable approaches to health, like eating a different diet that is comprised of nutrient-dense, whole foods. Moreover, they're also on the lookout for transparent brands when it comes to their messaging and avoids promoting diets that are unhealthy, like starvation, quick weight loss.

 

Need for Immunity Boosters

Food is no longer valued to stave off hunger. The future of food and beverage takes cues from the supplement industry, calling attention to what specific ingredients play to boost overall well-being and health. Covid-19 serves as a reminder for all of us that health is fleeting and can alter anytime.

For a lot of people, this led to looking for food and products that support a healthy immune system to battle illness. Today, more people are taking more supplements to boost immunity. The growing interest and rising demand for immune health will remain a top focus of the health and wellness industry this year and in the years to come.

 

Rather than concentrating on treating illnesses, a lot of consumers today strive to prevent them through a strengthened immune system.

 

Prioritizing Mental Wellness

For a lot of people, mental health has become a priority. Although food alone could not cure or treat anxiety, stress, or depression, consuming a mostly minimally processed diet rich in different nutrients could help support mental health. Diets that are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, healthy fats, fiber, and other bioactive compounds like probiotics, have been associated with better mental health.

What is noteworthy this year is that more food and beverage companies have come up with products containing the ingredients mentioned above, with emphasis on improving sleep and reducing stress, which of course leads to better mental health. Functional beverages in particular that contain stress-reducing compounds, like adaptogens that could help the body adapt to stress, and the CBD or the cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive part of cannabis, will become more popular.

 

Nonetheless, although these products may support mental health and minimize stress, a specific diet should not be a replacement for prescription medications or other treatment methods, like therapy. Your diet, instead, should be one piece of the puzzle to mental wellness.

 

Localism and Backstory

More consumers are looking to support local brands with a purpose and backstory instead of big companies. Based on the COVID-19 barometer of Kantar, 52 percent of respondents said they pay more attention to the origin of products, intending to buy local.