Tasting The Future

Food and drink choices of the millennials.

- By Deepak Bhatia

First Millennial: “Are you trying to diet?”Second Millennial: “No, I’m dying to try it!”(N. B.: The above is an example of a Spoonerism. See notes at the end.)

We are Millennials.

The adults currently aged between 18 to 34, forming a very influential group of the population – the Millennials. Successors to Baby Boomers, part of Generations X and Y, and predecessors to Generation Z.

Millennials are significantly more likely than adults aged 35+ to like standing out in a crowd, enjoy making fashion statements, and expect their car to express their personality. This pronounced proclivity for bold and confident individualism extends noticeably to Millennials’ food choices.

They are a demanding generation; these young adults are setting the trend by focusing on food choices, of which the top five are:

• Customisation

• Mash-ups

• Munchies

• Bowls

• Shrubs and Digestives

Indian millennials mirror the global trend. How else could it be, when they are highly educated, workfor MNCs, travel often in India and abroad, and have many opportunities to work and socialise with people from all over the world?

Millennial Menus

Millennials are quite clear in what they want, how they want it, and when they want it! They eat out frequently, order food delivered to their home or workplace, and also like to prepare their own meals at times.

While dining out, they tend to be conscious about:

• Ordering low-calorie, low-fat items