The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned about chronic diseases caused by people’s lifestyle choices. In recent years, there has been a definite shift toward living healthier among Americans.
For instance, there used to be a time when the obesity rate in the United States was 50%, but now, health officials only sound the alarm in a few states. West Virginia and Mississippi have the highest rates of obesity at 39.5%, while Colorado has the lowest (23%).
Now, the meal prep delivery is enjoying a boon due to the shift to a healthier lifestyle. By 2025, the meal delivery service industry will have grown to $8.9 billion from $2.5 billion in 2017. The compound annual growth rate for the market from 2017-2025 is 17.15 percent.
What Are These Lifestyle Diseases?
A lifestyle disease is a chronic condition that links to your habits and behaviors. If you are eating unhealthy foods, for instance, you are bound to have weight problems, diabetes, or cardiovascular issues.
Among the examples of lifestyle diseases are:
- Heart problems
- Obesity
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Dementia or Alzheimer’s
The abuse of drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol can also lead to these lifestyle diseases.
Key Findings in the 2018 Food and Health Survey
The International Food Information Council Foundation conducted the 2018 Food and Health Survey from March 12 to March 26, 2018. It had 1,009 respondents ranging from ages 18 to 80 years old.
Here are the key findings of that survey:
- People gravitate toward the familiar, even at the expense of health. It is why McDonald’s, KFC, and Domino’s Pizza are probably on most consumers’ speed dial.
- More than seven in ten Americans who are told to change their eating habits follow their doctor’s advice.
- The respondents trust the government to tell them what foods to eat and foods to avoid. They are also more confident about buying meat and poultry products due to the new rules on antibiotics usage.
- About 60% of consumers believe that the food they consume contains fewer pesticides and other chemicals.
- People are more conscious about what they put in their mouths. For instance, seven in ten consumers are willing to give up a favorite food in favor of another brand that contains less artificial ingredients.
Consumers are okay to pay more for organic foods than they would for artificial foods. Based on the survey, 40% are eager to fork 50% more of the cost, and 20% are willing to pay double the price of food.
One compelling result of the survey is that Americans are consuming less vegetables and fruits even if they think it is unhealthy for them. One main reason for this is the absence of access to quality sources.
Enter Meal Delivery Service
A meal prep delivery is a type of service that delivers fresh or frozen food to consumers. They are pre-packaged, so all you have to do is eat them or cook the ingredients. Prepared meals are in small containers with labels detailing the nutritional value.
Typically, these service providers operate on a subscription basis. They have pre-set diet programs to make it easier for consumers to choose from. You need to input your preferred diet or your nutritional goals so the dieticians can prepare a healthy weekly meal plan for you.
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