NEWS bites The plant-based shift The best source of plant protein? Why eat plant-based foods? Eating more plant-based meat products? Beans The environment Yes to plant-based meat Over half of survey respondents listed "beans" as their top choice, with lentils (45%) and chickpeas (36%) among the top three choices. Survey respondents listed "better for the environment" among their top three reasons, which rose to 48% in 2020 from 31% in 2018. Over one-third of respondents (37%) said they were eating more plantbased meat products at home in 2020, up from 27% in 2018. Source: Mattson The COVID-19 impact How we eat (87%) Eight in ten Americans made changes in the food they eat or how they prepare food because of the pandemic. Where we eat (60%) More than half of consumers reported cooking at home more. Source: IFIC 2020 Food & Health Survey "Whether these particular impacts of the pandemic are only temporary remains to be seen...but it's hard to think of another recent event that has had such far-reaching effects, and in such a short period, on how we purchase, prepare and consume foods and beverages." Joseph Clayton, president and chief executive officer, International Food Information Council (IFIC) 48 | Culinology | SEPTEMBER 2020 048_CU0920_News BitesAK.indd 48 9/11/2020 7:51:42 AM