A Look at Food
Trends
Just like clothing fashion fads, there are food fads
that come and go. In the last few decades, food trends
have been toward speed and
convenience. Unfortunately, our over-consumption of
fast food is resulting in increased levels of obesity,
diabetes and heart disease. The incidence of increased obesity
and diabetes, particularly in young children who are getting
less exercise than ever before, is disturbing. Food
trends associated with speed and convenience seem to be
reversing again.
Food and Social
Consciousness
In the United Kingdom, commercials for snacks such as
sugary breakfast cereal and potato chips have been recently
banned from children's television programmes. This
follows a campaign by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver in
introducing more nutritious meals into schools.
In the United States, more state legislatures are taking
action in banning soft drink and candy vending machines from
public schools. Hit movies such as Super Size
Me are also creating a change in food consciousness
in the States.
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Fast food restaurants are not the only source of "fast
food." Because most people are extremely busy with work
and driving kids around, it is tempting to pop
a packaged meal into the microwave at the end of a long
day. Microwaved food is not necessarily good (you should
read some of the effects about microwaving and what it does to
you) and by constantly throwing premade meals in the microwave,
parents are not teaching their children healthy cooking
skills. Consequently, the next generation may not be sure
how to prepare fresh vegetables...and may not even realize the
nutritional and taste value that they have.
As the developing economies in Asia grow, more women are
going out to work and their traditional shopping and cooking
habits are changing. Many are going to supermarkets instead of
to their local market stalls. It's already been reported that
Japanese children are becoming overweight. In Western Europe,
food trends are changing, too. We all think of French and
Italian families enjoying a leisurely meal cooked with fresh,
local produce. They still do, but there are growing food trends
toward processed food and ready meals, as people try to fit in
work commitments with life at home.
Food Trends Are Moving Toward "Slow Foods" and
Organics
Organic food has become popular over the last few
years and it is more easily available than ten or twenty years
ago. It's still more expensive than conventionally produced
food, however, and lower income people tend to eat the cheaper
pre-packaged foods or, if they are inclined to each fresh food,
they will buy the cheaper, mass produced fruits and
vegetables.
There is a blossoming movement now called the "Slow Food
Movement." The purpose of this food trend is to
persuade us to slow down and smell the aroma, so to speak.
Instead of speeding the process up, as with most food trends,
the idea is to cook slowly and keep the flavor and goodness in.
Rather than microwaving, slowly casserole or stew over a low
heat. The aroma alone will be worth it. It's a throwback to our
grandparents' time and one of the better food trends to emerge
for some time.
"A Look at Food Trends" contributed
by Urbain Beck
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