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Jobs in restaurants?
The catering industry has been painfully affected by the coronavirus pandemic — many restaurants and cafes have closed and even more people have lost their jobs. Unfortunately, the current situation is still not optimistic, because rising prices and high maintenance costs of premises mean that the owners simply cannot afford to hire additional hands for work (waiters or cooks). The number one trend for 2022 is — according to a report by the agency Baum + Whiteman — the use in catering of robots and all kinds of automation. The authors of the report point out that the use of robots is cheaper than hiring an employee and, moreover, safer in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic (lower risk of spreading the coronavirus). It also makes food of your choice available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. An example of the realization of this trend can already be found in many places “food tomatoes” with different types of dishes: from salads, to sandwiches, to main courses or desserts.
Plant based diet
The topic of reducing meat and increasing the proportion of plant products in the diet has been talked about for several years, mainly due to A report published in the journal Lanceton the impact of food on the environment. It is already known that the production of animal and highly processed food contributes to negative climate change, mainly through greenhouse gas emissions or the reduction of biodiversity (e.g. palm oil). To protect the environment and the planet, we need to make dietary changes, including through reduction of food of animal origin in favour of plant products. In line with this trend, more and more people want to reduce the amount of animal products they consume - but without necessarily giving up their taste qualities. Therefore, to meet the needs of consumers, manufacturers are launching suitable plant-based alternatives to the market - and yes, according to a report by the agency Baum + Whiteman, the absolute hit of the coming year will be plant-based chicken, available in popular fast-food chains around the world.
The plant-based diet was also included in the 2022 trend list published by EatingWell portal, and according to SideChef more supporters will gain reducetarianism — due to a balanced and balanced approach to a healthy lifestyle. This movement stands out because it does not exclude any group of food products, but emphasizes moderation in food. Although reducetarianism implies the reduction (hence the name) of animal and highly processed products from the daily diet, it does not eliminate them completely, as in the case of veganism.
Priority: Resilience
Supporting the body's immunity with a diet for many years was a topic more often taken up in the autumn-winter period, but due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, now the topic is relevant all year round. Over the past two years, many of us have completely changed our approach to health and now the body's immunity is a priority — so natural ways to support the work of the immune system, mainly due to the right diet and a healthy lifestyle, are gaining more and more interest. An indispensable addition in the kitchen will therefore be functional spices, that is, those that not only enrich the taste of dishes, but also have a positive effect on the body, e.g. turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, basil, thyme or rosemary. Drinks and foods based on or with the addition of hibiscus will also gain popularity, due to the high content of vitamin C, which supports the immune system. According to the agency Baum + Whiteman, greater awareness and concern for health will also promote the reduction of alcohol consumption and will influence the development of the soft drinks market.
Zero waste!
Ecology in life and in the kitchen must go hand in hand. Alongside the planetary diet, sensible cooking and not wasting food are topics that will be hot next year. Compatible with the results of the research of the PROM project, in which the analysis involved, among others, Food Banks and the Institute of Environmental Protection — National Research Institute, on average almost 5 million tons of food are wasted in Poland every year, of which most, as much as 60%, is wasted as its consumers. Discarded food, as a result of decomposition, favors the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which is a huge problem in the face of constantly advancing climate change. It is worth noting that The zero waste trend is not limited to cooking with maximum use of products, but begins already at the stage of planning food purchases. Let's remember that according to this trend, conscious buying and optimal use applies not only to food, but also, for example, clothes or household items.
As you can see, the above mentioned trends closely go hand in hand with the main problems that we face today almost all over the world. In addition to them, according to the researchers, in 2022 relevant topics will also be: a diet that supports brain function (e.g. MIND), healthy aging and the further development of the online grocery shopping market.
