4 ways the pandemic changed our eating habits

The pandemic has affected many aspects of our lives, including our drinking and eating. In several reports presented at the American Society of Nutrition’s annual meeting, researchers discovered trends in our habits, not all for the better.

CNN reported on some of the most significant changes we’ve seen in our eating habits as a result of the pandemic. Here are four of them:

Less healthy diet

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The consumption of unhealthy snacks and desserts increased significantly. During the pandemic, people were more likely to nibble and drink chips, cookies, sweetened coffees, teas, and sodas.

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When it comes to healthy foods, the consumption of vegetables and whole grains has decreased over the past year. “This decline was most pronounced in women, black and Latin American study participants, and participants who have gained at least five pounds or more since 2018,” said Caroline Um, a postdoctoral fellow at the American Cancer Society.

More pandemic weight jokes

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A study looking at the effects on children of families expressing their weight found that these behaviors internalized weight bias. According to the study, three such comments per month were enough to influence children. It has been found that this type of internalization and weight bias predicts future weight gain and promotes unhealthy eating habits and lifestyle choices.

More online grocery shopping

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In the early days of the pandemic, many people did their shopping to minimize exposure to germs and other people. In March and April 2020, 18,000 households were surveyed. A third of them ordered their groceries online because of the pandemic and the convenience.

Higher food prices

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Finally, research from Tufts University found that there is a link between local governments imposing severe restrictions in their community and higher food prices. The data was obtained by analyzing food and consumer goods prices in various counties across the United States while also comparing it to the community’s COVID-19 restrictions.