Environmental factors such as the weather, time of day, the immediate environment or advertisements also influence food choices. Restaurants and markets often take advantage of this. For example, a grocery store might place food at eye level to encourage shoppers to buy them. Food trends are influenced by a number of factors, such as health fads and pop culture.
In haute cuisine, chefs often create gastronomic trends, and then other restaurateurs imitate them and incorporate them into their own menus. Nowadays, native and locally produced foods are increasing consumer interest in healthy eating. Mindful eating involves recognizing the benefits of various foods and, at the same time, becoming familiar with their health properties. Consumers are looking for locally sourced and homegrown ingredients to add nutritional value to their daily meals.
The consumption of fresh, organically grown vegetables and fruits has increased as consumers' desire to eat consciously increases. The potential for food to be wasted leads to a reluctance to try “new” foods for fear that the family will reject them. Interestingly, it seems that the influence of food on mood is partly related to attitudes towards certain foods. The food and beverage industry is rapidly advancing and there is increasing pressure for industry leaders to keep up with changing trends.
Most studies investigate the factors that influence the usual choice of food, but it may be useful to investigate what influences the choice of food on the different occasions when you eat. The availability of healthy foods at home and “away from home” increases the consumption of such foods. I believe that the plant-based trend is here to stay, as consumers take control of their future and the future of the planet, requiring food companies to offer healthier, plant-based options with clean labels. The proposed mechanisms for stress-induced changes in diet and food choice are motivational differences (less concern for weight control), physiological changes (reduced appetite caused by processes associated with stress) and practical changes in eating opportunities, food availability and meal preparation.
Younger consumers, especially those of the millennial generation, are adopting healthier lifestyles and their choices are based on their desire to try new and different things, in particular the food philosophies they see on social media; right now, meatless diets are trending. There are many influences on food choice that provide a complete set of means to intervene and improve people's food choices. Nowadays, people, especially younger generations, are more aware of their health, which is what is behind many of the existing dietary trends. In addition to social media, there were other gastronomic trends, such as the vegan options that were available at Taco Bell.
The interest in functional foods has led to the appearance of a number of new foods and innovative brands on the shelves. Household incomes and the cost of food are an important factor influencing food choices, especially for low-income consumers. Food fads are similar to trends in that they still go viral in one way or another, but they go away after a while. Increasing the variety of foods can also increase food and energy intake and, in the short term, alter energy balance.45.
