The coronavirus pandemic has radically changed the way people across the world go about their lives. From a greater interest in outdoor activities to a sharper focus on mental health awareness, people are adjusting their lifestyles to reflect newfound, healthier preferences. Nowhere is this behavioral change more evident than in the food industry.
According to the annual Food & Healthy Survey from the International Food Information Council, more than four out of five consumers say that COVID-19 has altered their food habits. It’s inspired them to purchase, prepare, eat, and think about food in a different light. Of those surveyed, a higher percentage of people said that they were eating healthier than usual as a direct result of the public-health crisis. Experts forecast that healthy eating will continue to be a trend in a post-pandemic world.
Where do they get their info?
As consumers become hungry for better diets, they need to connect with people who can educate them on the nutritional value of their food. With their unparalleled knowledge about agricultural practices, farmers have unique insights to help educate the public on the foods being produced for consumers’ tables.
However, the average person doesn’t turn to a farmer to learn more about the food they’re consuming. Many might not even know a farmer to ask. Consumers usually turn to a trusted health professional, like a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN).
RDNs are food and nutrition experts who have met the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s criteria to earn the credential. RDNs contribute their services in a variety of fields, including in healthcare, education, research, public health, and agriculture. In the United States, RDNs frequently work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other government agencies to decrease food insecurity and to improve food safety throughout the country.
But RDNs don’t have a farmer’s knowledge about agricultural practices.
In 2018, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics identified this as an issue in their Strategic Plan. A key element of that plan is to correct the lack of knowledge about food production in their ranks. There are ongoing efforts by a variety of regional and national programs to train RDNs on how to gain more knowledge about how food is produced and overall agricultural practices.
One of the major recommendations is that RDNs should actually meet with farmers and visit their farms to help fill in those blanks in their knowledge. Connecting the dots about what “farm to table” really means can help RDNs become better at advising their clients, while helping farmers introduce what they produce to consumers.
