Millennials, defined as people born from the early 1980s until about 2004, are the largest U.S. age demographic. As such, their food preferences and consumer choices matter and are helping to determine what you will find in the grocery stores and restaurants across America, according to a Washington Post article.Following are millennial trends influencing how we eat:
Millennials want the truth: Millennials are demanding from food manufacturers transparency about ingredients, how their food is made, and sources of food.
They love customization: Millennials want to custom-design the flavor of their food and personalize their meals.
They want convenience: Fifty-five percent of millennials say convenience is top of mind when buying food. They embrace meal kits, grocery delivery services, food trucks, and online ordering. Baby boomers say taste matters most.
They are redefining “healthy:“ Millennials, according to statistics, say they want their food to be natural, organic, locally sourced or sustainable.
They value the planet: Millennials are engaged in how their food was sourced and grown and how that affects their carbon footprint. Sustainability is a priority for them when buying food.
The love to snack: Because some millennials graze instead of eating large meals, snack options have exploded. However, they want healthy and convenient offerings.
They love animal protein: 47 percent of millennials say animal protein is healthy, while just 26 percent of older people say this. Millennials are also more likely to say that saturated fat is healthy.
They will try anything: Millennials are described as open-minded and curious. The like trying new flavors, love ethnic cuisine, and will not shy away from vegetarian and vegan options.
However, there is one troublesome statistic to note, about 40 percent of millennials say that friends and family are a top source of their nutrition information. In addition, millennials rely heavily on websites, bloggers, social medias and fitness professionals for health information. Such behavior can quickly spread nutrition myths.
