Put an asterisk in your record-keeping in 2020 and 2021.
After a stressful 2020, many people have turned to food as a means of comfort, well-being, and community. Food as self-medication, healthier options, organics, plant-based meats, and premium products did very well. Consumers have extra money they could not spend at the restaurant. Forty-two percent of Americans said they had made changes to their eating and drinking habits. This included limiting sugars, “clean eating,” losing weight, and following other diets like keto. Thirty-six percent reported cooking more simple foods, trying new recipes (30%), or new cooking techniques (19%).*