Digitally Delicious: How Technology is Changing the Way We Eat
Explore the future of food tech and its impact on our well-being.
From AI-driven meal planning to sustainable farming solutions, discover how technology is shaping the way we eat. Alexey Shalimov, CEO of Eastern Peak, explains how these innovations change your dining experience and why they are essential for the future of our planet.
Rapid advancements in technology have a huge impact on all areas of our lives, and the food industry is no exception. Digitalization is steadily changing the way we produce and consume food, shaping our eating habits. Online delivery software, improved personalized nutrition through a diet planning app, and sustainable food production only indicate that our future is just a click away.
However, the most vital thing lies in novel solutions that provide digitalization to deal with pressing global problems. Technology in the food industry is designed to control the quality and safety of the food, delivering a positive impact on our environmental sustainability and well-being.
However, each of these solutions presented below changes the realm of digital food consumption in different ways, and now we will tell you how. Join us on a journey as we embark on current existing technologies and the contribution they bring to the development of the food industry. Innovation, fresh discoveries, helpful apps, and much more are below.
Digital Dining: Ordering and Delivery
The phenomenal demand for food takeaway services that emerged at the beginning of 2020 has led to a huge increase in the usage of mobile food delivery and ordering apps. Their functionality has seen many changes, creating new standards for the restaurant business. Nowadays, many establishments are adding virtual assistants for ordering food, creating food allergy apps, implementing real-time tracking systems, and searching for breakthrough methods to improve the customers’ dining experience.
As a consequence, these new technologies invited a new wave of popularity for contactless delivery and curbside pickup. According to Statista, the number of online food delivery users has already grown to more than 2.1 billion, and this figure will reach a new incredible mark of 2.5 billion users by 2028. With each day, traditional methods of ordering food are replaced by convenience, efficiency, and accessibility that bring innovations in meal delivery.
The common sphere of food ordering has also been changing due to subscription-based meal services and meal kit delivery. By selecting positions from an online menu each week, users can get a set number of fully prepared meals or pre-portioned ingredients with recipes for dietary restrictions right to their doorstep. Advanced meal subscription services not only allow people to skip lines and cut down on wait time but also help to create a balance between consuming healthy food and reducing the time to prepare it.
From 100% ecological and vegetarian food to easy-to-cook meals and children’s favorites, delivery services can now provide more personalized options, enhancing the overall dining experience. Innovations in food delivery platforms have also formed comfortable conditions to keep track of calorie intake and macros, which brings us to the next point.
Personalized Nutrition Apps and Wearables
Obesity has remained the number one problem worldwide for decades — more than 41.91% of people are overweight as of 2024. In this regard, wellness apps with personalized nutrition that cater to specific needs and preferences have gained fresh popularity and, more importantly, new features. Apps for dietary restrictions with tracking and calorie counters allow users to track, monitor, and improve eating habits thanks to a clear analysis of data on consumed foods, obtained nutrients, dietary restrictions, and the daily lifestyle of a person.
By using new technologies, people can make more informed decisions on how to fight problems such as obesity and food allergies. Wearable gadgets, such as fitness bands, smartwatches, and sports-specific devices, are also helping with this challenge. The main feature of these powerful tools is the monitoring of food intake and physical activity.
Based on the obtained data, such as heart rate, sleep patterns, body composition, blood glucose levels, and other essential aspects, users can receive personalized recommendations for sports exercises as well as how to reduce stress levels and improve sleep quality. All of this together helps improve fluid intake and meal planning. Moreover, wearable technology can be easily integrated with a nutrition plan app, which allows people to discover previously unknown ways how to manage their health effectively.
The combination of these technologies can provide feedback that fully adapts to the user’s lifestyle activities and eating habits while delivering meaningful and impactful advice. Kitchen appliances and IoT have also become a big part of the nutritional revolution, but their impact has reached a new level.
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Smart Kitchen Appliances and IoT
Digital transformation in the food industry is slowly but surely finding its place in the homes of many Americans and has already reached their kitchens. Smart refrigerators and pantry inventory management systems became true helpers in effective inventory management and reducing waste. All thanks to one of the main features of IoT-enabled devices — real-time tracking. From careful temperature control to automatically placing orders to restock, smart kitchen solutions change the view of food storage.
Kitchen operations have also been modified with IoT-enabled appliances for cooking and food preparation. Wi-Fi-enabled ovens, smartphone-controlled multicookers, Bluetooth-connected coffee machines, and other devices significantly improved cooking experiences thanks to automation. Moreover, M2M communication technology made it possible to exchange information between multiple devices and speed up the cooking process, optimizing the use of ingredients and minimizing possible errors.
However, the main highlight of IoT technologies is voice-controlled assistants, which can both provide recipe guidance and create meal planning. Integration with other devices allows AI to find a recipe based on available ingredients and appliances. In addition to dietary restrictions, algorithms also take into account allergies and even user preferences for taste and texture. Furthermore, users can receive instructions based on their level of cooking experience in the format of both audio instructions and video tutorials for a more detailed understanding of the recipe.
Food Tech and Alternative Diets
After the culture of eco-consciousness became a part of our lives; there was a new call for sustainable food production as one of the main concerns. Organic farming, sustainable water resource management, and energy-efficient production are just the beginning of what has been achieved with the help of new nutrition tech. There are also plant-based meat substitutes and lab-grown meat alternatives, which are still growing in popularity.
With the help of technology, it is already possible to minimize negative environmental impacts and take effective actions to address the global food crisis. The time is not far off when alternative diets will replace the current ones and revolutionize the way we consume and produce food. That is primarily because sustainable food production guarantees both the production of healthy and nutritious food as well as the maintenance of a stable agricultural system.
Also, food technology has made a breakthrough in food allergy detection and personalized dietary restrictions. From portable allergen detection devices to AI-powered food recognition systems, people can make data-driven decisions about proper nutrition. Bearing in mind information on potential allergens can easily create dietary programs with no potential health risks.
In addition to software like the Allergy Edge app, technologies are moving towards developing apps and platforms catering to specific dietary lifestyles that will also help maintain proper eating habits. Regardless of whether a person follows a vegan, keto, gluten-free, or other diet, these systems can provide a clear meal plan and help make the right food choices for better health.
Emerging Trends in Nutrition and Food Technology
In 2024, the trend for wellness with proper nutrition and related technologies will continue to gradually change old eating habits to new, more advanced ones. Restaurants jump-start food delivery apps with voice assistants, companies are releasing personalized nutrition apps for alternative diets, and homes are getting filled with smart appliances. Moreover, science has brought new methods that radically transform the way we eat.
Environmentally friendly practices dictate new rules for developing food production technologies. At the same time, companies won’t stop adapting to their audience’s needs. These facts only predict an increase in demand for new solutions that can improve and diversify nutrition. The only question left is when these latest innovations will become commonplace.
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