Consumers are now more likely to focus first on a food’s price than added benefits like immune health, dieticians predict in survey

Photo © AdobeStock.com/Mr. Music

Consumers are now more likely to focus on a food’s price than on added benefits like immune health, dieticians predicted in a recently published survey. The “What’s Trending in Nutrition” survey, conducted annually by public relations firm Pollock Communications and media company Today’s Dietitian, was recently conducted on 757 registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs).

“The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a focus on ‘food as medicine,’ with consumers shopping for foods that support immunity and provide comfort,” the report states. “But as consumers navigate the cost-of-living crisis, RDNs predict that affordability will be a higher priority than immunity for the first time since the onset of the pandemic.”

Dietitians surveyed also listed their top 10 superfoods for 2023, which for the first time are all plant-based, the report notes. They include: 1) fermented foods, 2) seeds, 3) blueberries, 4) avocados, 5) nuts, 6) leafy greens, 7) aquatic greens like algae and seaweed, 8) green tea, 9) ancient grains, and 10) non-dairy milks. Dietitians also said plant-based eating continues to grow more popular, with plant-based diets now the “third most popular trend after intermittent fasting and keto diets,” the report states. But most also said they would not recommend highly proceed meat alternatives.

As for other food trends, snacking is still popular, as is the distribution of misleading nutrition information on social media platforms, the dietitians said.