Today's consumers are weighing taste adventure and convenience with new considerations related to what's better for me (diet and personal health) and better for the planet (ethics, sustainability).

More than half of US adults claim they really enjoy cooking (53%) and more than one-third consider the kitchen to be the most important room in the home (35%), according to Packaged Facts’ report, “Eating Trends: Cooking & Food Shopping” Officials note these percentages have risen compared to a decade ago.

According to a report from Innova Market Insights, snacking has already become an all-day habit in the States. While 46% of consumers eat salty snacks between-meals in the afternoon and 37% in the evening, more consumers are also replacing traditional meals with quicker bites.

Survey results reveal 80% of adults eat breakfast foods as a snack or for breakfast-for-dinner, with more than 50% engaging in those behaviors once a month or more. And findings show nearly three-quarters of Americans state they feel happier or more energized on days when they snack on breakfast foods or enjoy them for dinner.

I’ve witnessed some impressive paradigm shifts in how consumers — and product developers — understand and use food and ingredients. The needless demonization of salt, fat, meat, and sugar has moved away from the focus of concern, with most Americans recognizing the idea of moderation and moving away from the guilt that preoccupied everyfood decision.

One trend that emerged from the survey is that of "better informed purchasing decisions." A majority of millennials want to know where their food comes from and how it is sourced. Transparency in food sourcing is important to more than 65% of millennials, particularly for fresh meat and seafood.

Nine percent of adults say a top nutrition goal is protecting brain health and when asked about foods that promote brain health, young adults were 45% more likely to express an interest in these products compared to 35-44-year-olds, finds NPD’s Health Aspirations & Behavioral Tracking Service.

‘These shifts highlight the importance of ongoing innovation in this marketplace,’ said Lu Ann Williams, Director of Innovation at Innova Market Insights. ‘Convenient formats are now important for many consumers, while the rise of dinner usage suggests interest in more indulgent, dessert style yogurts.’

Survey data published in the report reveal that as of 2018, in terms of the three main meals, a far higher share of adults consider breakfast to be the most important meal of the day compared with lunch or dinner.

The prototypes represent a mix of foods and beverages that support three major shifts in global consumer eating behavior: plant-based protein, sugar reduction, and clean and simple labels.