FT 3.2..1

• Consumption


  Refers to using, buying, or eating something
• Patterns of eating


  Refer to the quantities, proportions, variety, and combination of different foods and drinks that people eat and how often they eat them
• Food fad


  Merely 'fashionable' for a short time
• Food trend


  Change in food purchasing or consumption that occurs over a long period of time
• A range of factors influences food purchasing and consumption behaviours
• Any change in food purchasing or consumption becomes a trend when it lasts a long period of time
• It is important not to confuse a trend with a fad
• Over the years, Australia's buying and eating patterns have changed significantly
• The number of foods from the five food groups that Australians consume has not changed much over the last few years
• Australians ignore or find it challenging to understand and follow the Australian Dietary Guidelines and the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating
• On average, Australians are not consuming the recommended serves of food from each of the five food groups
• Australians are decreasing the amount of refined or low fibre cereal products and increasing the amount of wholegrain or high fibre food products they consume
• Australians, on average, consume about half a kilo of sugar each week
• The consumption of some foods containing sugar is declining, while the consumption of other foods such as chocolate, confectionery, and soft drinks has increased
• The amount of people consuming electrolyte energy and fortified beverages has increased significantly
• The increase in diet drinks consumption can be attributed to more people trying to lose weight
• Consumption of diet drinks tends to be high in young people, and women are more likely to consume them than men
• The 1990s are referred to as the 'Golden Age of the Lunchbox' due to the increased quantities of convenience foods produced and consumed
• Over time, food products such as Lean Cuisine frozen meals, prepared curries and lasagnes, Chicken Tonight, and Tiny Teddies have become increasingly popular products to buy
• Reasons for the increasing rates of individually packaged and ready-made meals include an ageing population that lives on their own, working parents wanting to buy and make meals quickly, and the younger generation lacking the time and knowledge to prepare foods from scratch
• Recent studies have suggested that Australians have increased the number of snacks they purchase and consume over the last few years
• Factors that may influence the increase in snack food consumption include more people working from home and convenience stores selling more snack foods
• From 2006 to 2007, 71.4% of consumers purchased caged eggs compared with 23.4% purchasing free-range, while from 2016 to 2017, 48.9% of consumers bought caged eggs and 41.3% purchased free-range eggs
• This change in purchasing behaviour indicates that ethical issues influence Australians' food choices
• Since 1991, there has been a steady increase in people purchasing and consuming organic foods, possibly related to people's desire to consume foods that do not contain any chemical residue and their concern for the environment
• People are also thinking more about how ethical their food choices are and consider animal welfare when deciding what to eat and buy
• Caged eggs


  71.4% of consumers purchased from 2006 to 2007, 48.9% from 2016 to 2017
• Free-range eggs


  23.4% of consumers purchased from 2006 to 2007, 41.3% from 2016 to 2017
• Official legislation regarding organic food certification was introduced


  1991
• Since then, there has been a steady increase in people purchasing and consuming organic foods
• Reasons for purchasing organic food


  • Concern about chemicals used when growing fresh produce and rearing animals and the impact on their health (62%)
  • Belief that the production method is more sustainable (45%)
• The land used for organic farming grew from 336,000 hectares in 1995 to 35,645,000 hectares in 2018
• Plant-based meats


  Made to replicate meat, produced to have the same sensory properties as animal-based foods
• Range of plant-based foods


  • Cheese made from almonds, cashews, and macadamia nuts
  • Dairy alternatives made from cereal grains like rice, legumes, and nuts
  • Meat alternatives produced from beans, mung beans, mushrooms, peas, and soy
• Reasons for consuming plant-based meats


  • Being vegan or vegetarian and not consuming meat or meat products
  • Believing plant-based meats are healthier than eating meat
  • Believing purchasing plant-based meats is better for the environment than beef raised conventionally
• The CSIRO has reported that the plant-based meat industry could generate between $3 and $9 billion worth of sales by 2030
• The trend for buying and consuming plant-based meat products in Australia is increasing
• The number of people buying from local or smaller businesses seems to be increasing
• There has been a decline in people buying from two of Australia's leading supermarkets, Coles and Woolworths, and a slight rise in the number of people shopping at ALDI
• The number of Farmers' markets in Australia grew from 70 in 2004 to 180 by 2015