During the pandemic, everyone’s eating habits have changed tremendously. People used to go out to eat often, finding new food trends everywhere from Los Angeles County to Orange County. Many people prefer to eat out rather than cook at home. According to Statista, “almost 19 million people dine in a full service restaurant and over 49 million people reported to [call in takeout orders or delivery service].” Since COVID, it caused many restaurants to close down, provide outdoor dining with limited space, or provide takeout and delivery service orders. Many found themselves not wanting to place delivery orders only to find that when their food arrived, it was cold and unsatisfying. A pivot to home cooking with an emphasis on healthy cooking became a great alternative to dining out.
Most families are always on the move, but when COVID cases were increasing, many companies closed their offices and had everyone stay home and work virtually. This is a great benefit for families to be home more often and spend time with each other during the week. Use this time as an opportunity to spend time with your family by cooking with each other, sitting down at the table, and sharing how everyone’s day was. It is important to spend time with your loved ones because you never know what can happen the next day.
As everyone gets older, it is necessary to put your health first. Shopping for nutritious foods and finding recipes can be difficult at times, but AARP provides a list of ingredients and some healthy recipes to make from them. Many restaurants do not provide a nutrition facts label to show how much sodium or carbs each item has on their menu. When you are shopping, it is important to pick the right protein that does not have any additives such as sodium nitrite. Sodium nitrite is used to preserve the protein to grow bacteria and add more flavor and an attractive color for people to buy. Consuming these types of food additives can cause a higher risk of cancer, so this website will help everyone to look out for when they are grocery shopping. Remember to take some time off to try something new by cooking with the family and spending time with them.
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By Haley Tojo
Data Research Specialist at WellPath Partners
Healthcare Administration Student at California State University, Long Beach
