We all know that 2020 has been a quite unusual and stressful year, where reality has been completely revolutionised and a "new normality" has been introduced to our daily lives. This had a huge impact on our daily routines and lifestyle choices we make. Below we have summarised the top 5 food lifestyle trends of 2021!
1. More time for breakfast Yes, we’re all tired of being stuck at home, but every cloud has a silver lining: we have more time to prepare meals, especially breakfast! Waking up in the right mood gives you the energy to face your daily challenges and it motivates you! There is nothing better than waking up knowing that you're going to make yourself a tasty and delicious breakfast. So, forget about granola bars on the go for now, and take your time, prepare yourself a healthy and nutritious bowl of porridge, cereals, fresh fruit, or overnight oats! Give a look to our pear porridge recipe for an extra burst of energy!
2. Virtual cooking classes
Classes on Zoom have become part of every student's routine, and adults can now take this opportunity to join some online cooking classes to improve their culinary skills. Don't be scared of experimenting! Being able to learn how to make exotic food while being at home, can be a great way to kill some time and taste some delicious recipes! Other than being a great chance to learn more about the art of cooking, this might even lead to meeting new people who share the same passion as you do.
Here you can find 3 of the best websites where to schedule your next cooking class!
a. https://www.thekitchn.com/collection/cooking-school
c. https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/techniques
3. Environmental consciousness & low-waste food
We're becoming more and more conscious of the climate change and of the importance of making eco-friendly purchasing decisions. In fact, food production is a significant contributor to climate change, and reducing the consumption of animal products to lower the impact has become a trend in the past years. People are also being encouraged to mainly eat food that is seasonally available and available locally, as well as paying more attention to food waste. Going low-waste includes a reduction of plastic used for packaging and make use of food scraps that are usually sent to waste, like broccoli steams, potato peels and carrots tops.
If you're looking for inspiration for zero-waste food recipes, you should definitely check out Max La Manna's instagram account. He shares easy and mouth-watering recipes that make use of the entire ingredient, zero-waste tips and tricks to eliminate food and plastic in your home and kitchen - saving you money and food!
4. Flexitarian diet
Even though we are well-aware of the effects that meat consumption has on the environment, not everyone is willing to make the switch to a 100% plant-based diet. And this is why, especially in 2021, the "flexitarian diet" is on the rise. This kind of diet mainly consists of plant-based foods, mostly fruits, vegetables, legumes and wholegrain. It encourages taking the proteins from plants instead of animals, but it still allows the consumption animal products in moderation. The flexitarian diet is also more oriented towards a healthier lifestyle, as it limits the consumption of highly processed foods, refined grains and added sugar, which leads us to the 5th food trend of 2021.
5. Growth in food delivery
Restaurants and food services have been suffering a lot from the beginning of the pandemic and a big part of the consumers is trying their best to help their favourite local restaurants. Most of those restaurants had to adapt to the new technology of food delivery in order to stay in business. As a matter of fact, the increase of demand for grocery services and food delivery has increased drastically.
But why is ordering food online so convenient for customers?
a. It allows the customer to place an order at virtually any time, from anywhere, saving a lot of time. While ordering food online, a customer can also find many options in terms of restaurants, cuisines, dishes, add-ons etc.
b. Minimal contact that protects both employees and customers, which is a key aspect to take into account during Covid time.
c. Not only does an online menu provide more information about food options, but it allows customers to take the time they need to browse the menu and change/customise their dishes as they please.
And, don't forget to tip your delivery guy!
