It’s official! Millennials are having kids. Whatever your opinion of Generation Y, aka millennials, there is no denying that people born between 1981 and 1996 bring their own zest to every aspect of life. Now, they are having kids, and they’re bringing their own unique flair to parenting. Drawing on decades of dietary research, fast food trends, and health studies, millennials are more critical than previous generations when it comes to the foods they feed their kids, and restaurants and grocery stores alike will likely see an overhaul of the traditional kids’ menus and kid-marketed products found on shelves. With that said, this could be good news for supplement manufacturers, as many millennial food habits trend toward health positive solutions, such as vitamins, probiotics, and a full spectrum of nutrition. After all, what the food industry doesn’t supply, the nutritional supplement industry can support.
Starch-filled kids’ menus are nothing new. Chicken fingers. Fries. Buttered noodles. If you’re lucky, you might get a side of fruit, or if you’re at McDonald’s, a bag of apple slices. But in 2020, it’s the kids who are asking for more health foods, not just parents. Based on a study published by JAMA, it’s fair to say that millennial kids are eating more vegetables, whole grains, and fish, improving their overall diets 27% between 1999 and 2016. Nutritional supplements are playing a significant role in the dietary shift as well, and millennial parents are doing their homework on just what makes kids the most likely to achieve physical and cognitive success for the long haul.
So what does the “Millennial Kids’ Menu” look like? Primarily, it’s the trend toward all-natural recipes and simple whole foods. Unprocessed, preservative-free, and no added sugars are three common expectations. A great rule of thumb is if it came directly from a vine, a bush, a tree, or the ground, it’s probably a great place to start. The idea is similar to adult dietary trends, such as keto, vegetarian, or raw food diets. In the end, there is no denying that there is a lot you can do with fresh fruits and veggies. Meat is certainly in the mix as well, but many of the same expectations apply. Millennial parents, and their kids, are opting for fresh cut meats, unfrozen alternatives, and limited or unprocessed meats. That means fewer chicken nuggets and hot dogs.
The kids’ menu may never be the same, but a new era of health-conscious kids offers promise in the face of record-high obesity rates. The next generation is looking for nutrition, and it’s up to leading supplement manufacturers and leaders of the food industry to change the name of the game for the betterment of tomorrow’s youth.