Everyone loves to eat, regardless of age. And while many people may like the same foods and the same places, they may have completely different eating habits. See how different the preferences of the three popular groups are: Baby Boomers, Millennials, and Gen Z.
Generation X
These are people born in 1960-1979. They usually know what they want and what food will satisfy their appetite and expectations. When going to a restaurant, they pay more attention to order and cleanliness of the room. Gen Xers are not only looking for clean tables and shiny floors, they also take into account the condition of toilets and cutlery. Dirty or abandoned premises and the lack of adequate standards in any restaurant can greatly scare them off.
Interestingly, it is Gen X, not the Millionial, who are driving the healthy eating trend. And while they are unlikely to strictly follow dietary guidelines and count calories as meticulously as other generations, they are more focused on the origin and healthy ingredients of food.
Bright labels and quirky descriptions will not pique their interest, nor will claims about the health benefits of the product. Compared to restaurant diners of a different age, they are not overly influenced by terms such as gluten-free, vegan or vegetarian.
Millennials (Gen Y)
Millennials, or Generation Y, are people born in the 1980s and 1990s. They are looking for a unique culinary experience that suits their personal interests. While some want to explore other cultures by eating exotic foods, others will want to fill their plate with local food. Millennials don’t just eat – they talk about nutrition, photograph food, and share on social media.
Accessibility, convenience and individuality are 3 elements that this generation values food. Its representatives will look for places that can provide these aspects – be it an elegant restaurant, a local bar, or even a food van.
Millennials are often open minded and interested in new flavors and dishes. Although 81% of them are very interested in healthy food, they are nevertheless willing to try almost anything that satisfies their appetite (they can choose a high-calorie meal or a snack made from natural rather than artificial ingredients).
Compared to other generations, more millennials eat outside the home, usually skipping their traditional meals.
Generation Z
These are people born in the second half of the 1990s and after 2000. Generation Z combines food more closely with new technology. Their confidence in technology is definitely stronger than that of previous generations. In practice, this means that most millennials will first search the Internet for information about a particular restaurant or product, document the process of eating a meal live, and publish a review describing their feelings and opinions after the meal is finished.
Despite Gen Z’s love of snacks and street food, they also want a true culinary experience. Gen Z is eager to try new products and is interested in unconventional nutritional trends. These people pay a lot of attention to labels and ingredients, as they prefer to know exactly what they are going to eat.
And what about the next generations? We will remind, earlier we already wondered what people will eat in the future, as well as which product will definitely take its place on the plate of our heirs.