The Future of Nutrition in the Digital Age

When we think of nourishment, we often search for a blend of what’s convenient, within budget, tasty and hopefully, what’s healthy. However, how do we know if we’re making the best choices for our individual needs aside from adding some veggies to our basket and staying away from the dreaded dinner in a bag? When 5 p.m. rolls around and it’s time to think about what to eat, often convenience has a bigger influence in what we eat than anything else.

However, this need for convenience is disrupting traditional models of purchasing food. The role of the traditional grocery store is changing. Food delivery and “click, bag, pickup” alternatives are cropping up everywhere. The Whole Foods purchase by Amazon is a signal that a wave of change is on the verge. We now have alternatives that allow us to make better food choices and it not require an hour trip to and from the grocery store.

Amidst this change, is a growing desire to eat healthy. What does that mean, though? Is it the same for everyone? As someone who grew up eating what we planted, I always felt I ate healthy, which most of the time we did. What I’ve learned through my own genetic testing and health tests, are that I require different foods than others to reach optimum health. With what we eat making up 80 percent of weight loss goals, it’s more important than ever to think about what we consume.

Personalized nutrition is on the horizon. Food combinations that are based on what the individual needs, based on predisposed conditions and their health profile, is happening and will continue to grow. Living better, not just longer, is a realization we come to as our grandparents and parents age; health is something we should never take for granted. Companies are seeing this too and jumping on the bandwagon. Services like Habit are emerging to help consumers make more educated food choices that are tailored to their individual makeup.

At Padilla, we are rethinking how technology can play a role in personalized nutrition. While many advances will come in the future, we can begin today making healthy recommendations that are geared towards helping humanity live a longer, healthier and happier life. From algorithms to personalized meal plans and recipes, we see a future in leveraging technology and food science to assist us in making better, healthier food choices.

In the near future, we will see more widespread diet recommendations based on our DNA, bloodwork and family health history. With this data, we might not be happy to see what we cannot eat anymore (or at least not as much of), but we will love the way we feel. Stay tuned for more updates in the future on this topic.

For more insights on communications and brand strategy, industry trends and more, subscribe today to the Weekly Buzz here.