Tags: 21st Century diet, Food trends, Dietary scenarios of 2030, Food choices

The purpose of this work is to provide a framework of reflection in reference to the variables that will influence the future development of dietary styles, to understand how their interaction can generate future scenarios: this does not mean formulating predictions, but understanding what the dimensions and choices could be that determine future behaviors. 2030 is chosen, in particular, because as a time horizon, it is sufficiently distant to be able to develop some interesting projections, and at the same time, near enough to hypothesize a future scenario that is potentially realistic. The perimeter we decided to perform our analysis in is represented by the post-industrial countries, which are characterized by a kind of post-modern culture. In fact, in an age where speed counts more than duration, where there is a growing sense of uncertainty, lack of control, and a sense of risk, a state of anxiety is created that was unknown to pre-modern society. This state of anxiety and uncertainty is also reflected in behaviors manifested in the diet, characterized by a demand for speed which necessitates greater practicality, due to less time being available to dedicate to consuming meals; demand for local food, associated with a search for greater authenticity in what we eat; and growing individualization, which introduces the risk of losing the dimension of eating with others. In light of the conditions in which we live and people’s perceptions and behavior in this era, our efforts were directed toward constructing a conceptual outline that can be used to understand the elements that will influence the future development of food choices within post-modern societies.

Eating in 2030.pdf