Over recent years there has been a rise in consumers paying more attention to their food and drink choices. Known as conscious eating, this trend combines mindful eating – the act of paying attention to food as you eat it – with a consideration for how food choices impact both you and the world around you.
Conscious eating shows no signs of slowing down as individuals increasingly want to make sure the ingredients and dishes they eat align with their values. It is being driven by greater awareness of the health impacts of food from social media, government legislation and broader consumer behaviour.
There is a clear desire to make more informed choices about food. Many people are keen to avoid ultra-processed foods, additives and preservatives and instead want to pick foods with nutritional benefits which will make them feel good. Another key issue is the environmental impact of food, with consumers keen to ensure their food choices are as sustainable and ethical as possible.
As a result, we’ve seen an increasing demand for dishes focusing on whole foods. This is particularly clear in the world of vegetarian and vegan dishes, where there has been a move towards vegetables and natural proteins like nuts, cheese and pulses as opposed to manufactured meat alternatives.
We love cooking and creating dishes like this, as it gives us, and you, the opportunity to use ingredients in the best possible way and make real foods the star of the show. We work closely with our clients to ensure transparency and visibility on ingredients and cooking processes.
Many of our dishes are hand finished, with a focus on artisan ingredients and use freezing not chilling to avoid the need for extra preservatives and additives. If you’d like to discuss how we can help shape your menu for conscious customers, get in touch.