Salty snacks, simple meals, desserts and sweet snacks, proteins as main courses, and ready-to-eat breakfasts will be the five favorite food choices for teens in 10 years. If you want your child to be the exception, begin to establish healthy eating habits in your family today.
In the year 2020, teens will eat more salty and flavored snacks, convenience foods, proteins as main dishes, desserts, sweets, and ready-to-eat breakfasts. This is one of the conclusions of the report “A Look Into the Food of the Future,” performed by NDP, a market research group, which analyzed how the eating habits of each generation determines how the diet will be in ten years. To do this, researchers analyzed changes in the diet and compared this to growth patterns, food preferences of each generation, the effects of population and its evolution over the next decade, and current trends.
The group analyzed five generations: generation “Z,” born from 1990 to present; generation “Y,” born between 1976 and 1989; generation “G,” between 1965 and 1975; the old “boomers,” born between 1946 and 1955, and the “silent” generation, born between 1930 and 1945.
People of the “Y” generation will be responsible of increasing the consumption of the five food groups previously mentioned, except for the ready-to-eat breakfasts. In a decade, adults between 31 and 44 years old will eat up to 44% more salty snacks; 42% more simple meals; 22% more protein as main dishes, and 34% more desserts and sweet snacks; while children under 10 years of age, who conform generation “Z” will have the highest influence on the increase of ready-to-eat breakfasts.
“Understanding the effect of time in the preferences and habits of different generations helps food companies develop long-term plans for their products and innovations,” said Ann Hanson, author of the study.
Building the Future Without doubt, anticipating the future will always be positive, but not only for businesses. Families can also modify some habits in order to create healthy habits in children that will last a lifetime. Evidence has shown that children who grow in families that practice sports and follow a healthy diet, prioritizing the consumption of fruits and vegetables, maintain these healthy habits during adulthood.
To do this, here are some tips to consider when planning the family diet:
1. Choose at least 50% of whole grains when buying bread, flour, rice, and cereal bars.
2. Vary the vegetables: Every week, introduce new alternatives, so that children learn to eat other food choices.
3. Give children fruit, not only as a dessert, but also as a snack or juice.
4. Serve low-fat milk several times a day to provide enough calcium.
5. Choose fat-free foods.
6. Select corn, soybean, canola, and olive oil.
7. Avoid foods that contain sugar as a main ingredient.
Following these tips, you’ll be contributing to a healthier generation. Definitely, we’re all protagonists of our future.
Source: www.npd.com/ MyPyramid.gov/kids
