Friday, March 29, 2024

NUTRITION TRENDS FOR 2021

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Nakiah Thomas-Edwards

One thing that the year 2020 has done, is to make Barbadians realise that they did not have food security, and that they need to plant more food to ensure they have enough to eat in a crisis. And because of the pandemic, people are realising more and more that a healthy diet keeps the immune system strong and more ready and able to prevent diseases. Immediately then, two nutrition trends will be to eat more home-grown foods, and eat more foods to build the immune system.

Here are some predicted international trends that will impact Barbadians in this new year:

1.Immunity boosters For people who do not or cannot take the time to prepare balanced meals, supplements to support the immune system will become a requisite. Healthline.com states that rather than focusing on treating conditions, many consumers will strive to prevent illness through a strengthened immune system. Products with the nutrients zinc, selenium, vitamin C, and vitamin D will become more popular.

2.Natural alternatives The wave of alternative medicine will continue to increase, especially in the wake of the vaccine which is still in research phase.

Natural healers which help boost the immune system, like elderberry, echinacea, astragalus, turmeric, and ginger, will remain the top selling herbs.

3.Transparency

People have increasingly become more aware of the tricks some food companies employ to make their products appear better than others on the market. With this growing consumer interest in transparency, companies will engender a caution in companies not to make false health claims that are not backed by science.

4 .Keeping it local

The lockdown caused by the pandemic was a stark lesson about the need for food security. This food security is not just about having enough prepackaged food; it’s about having enough healthy and fresh food available at all times. A ‘new’ trend is therefore expected to be an increase in the growing of food both on farms and around the house, and the purchase of foods grown in locally.

5.Food with a purpose

Internationally, the increasing purchase of local foods indicates that consumers prefer to support a local company, mainly family-owned, rather than large corporations. The origin of the food will become important.

6.Low environment footprint

In addition to food from the general locale of the consumer, a trend will be the purchase of food which does not contribute to making a large carbon footprint. Consumers may choose to buy locally grown produce and animal-based products to lower carbon emissions caused by longdistance food delivery. Diets may involve a lower intake of animal products but not eliminate them.

Instead, consumers may choose animal products with a lower environmental footprint, such as swapping beef for chicken or eating a few plantbased foods each week.

7. Flexitarianism

People have been choosing to become vegetarians for a long time, and more people have become concerned about the production of meat and its by-products. A flexitarian diet is the answer for people who don’t want to stop eating meat completely, but want to reduce how much they contribute to that industry. Healthline.com states: “The Flexitarian Diet is a style of eating that encourages mostly plantbased foods while allowing meat and other animal products in moderation.”

Companies will also continue to promote plant-based products but also develop products that contain higher amounts of plant-based ingredients and lower amounts of animal-based ones to help customers find a middle ground.

8. Grow your own food kits

The trend is growing in Barbados and around the world – a box of soil, seedlings and organic fertiliser so that consumers can grow their own food. The trend of a meal in a box, where the ingredients for specific recipes are portioned out to create the desired meal, is growing in other parts of the world. The pre-made meal kits and health-food boxes are expected to save time but still allow for healthy eating. Many people love meal kit delivery services because most of the prep work like grocery shopping, measuring, and cutting is already done. For a busy person who usually eats takeout during the week, this makes eating healthy much easier and convenient. Plus, many of these companies focus on local food, sustainable practices and cater to a variety of food preferences and diets. As such, meal kit companies are expected to grow in popularity.

9. Cooking at home

During the lockdown when the fast food outlets were closed, thousands more people were forced to cook at home. This is a trend that is expected to continue as people recognised the health benefits of not eating readydone food filled with MSG and other harmful additives, fats, old oil, too much salt and sugar. Cooking at home, especially with family makes for spending quality time, and creating new healthy recipes.

(Sources for this article include healthline.com and grandviewresearch.com)

“THE

FLEXITARIAN

DIET IS A STYLE

OF EATING THAT

ENCOURAGES

MOSTLY

PLANT-BASED

FOODS WHILE

ALLOWING

MEAT AND

OTHER ANIMAL

PRODUCTS IN

MODERATION.”

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