Healthy delivery services and home cooking boosted amid COVID-19 lockdown

06 Apr 2020 --- COVID-19’s march continues seemingly unencumbered and consumers around the world have been staying at home to help “flatten the curve” of contagion. As a result, consumers are cooking more as eating out is no longer a viable option. On the other end of the spectrum, food delivery services are another flourishing option with many companies marketing healthy meal kits and indulgent flavors to appeal to consumers. NutritionInsight examines how one can maintain a healthy diet during confinement, as well as the healthy delivery options.

Global organizations are also recommending sticking to a healthy diet despite the trying times. In this spirit, non-profit organization European Food Information Council (EUFIC) shared guidance on how to keep healthy while in isolation. Following general healthy living advice such as eating a balanced diet, staying hydrated, being physically active, getting enough sleep, and managing stress are the best recommendations for staying healthy during quarantine or self-isolation, EUFIC asserts.

According to the British Nutrition Foundation (BFN), a healthy diet is crucial and cannot be substituted by supplements. The organization highlights the importance of a balanced and varied diet for maintaining a healthy immune system.

“If you are worried that your diet will not provide you with all the nutrients you need, then you could consider a supplement – a multivitamin and mineral supplement may be the best approach so that you get a range of vitamins and minerals. However, it is always best to try to get as many nutrients as possible through food sources, as a healthy diet can provide a range of natural compounds that you will not find in supplements,” BNF states.

Popular meal delivery service HelloFresh saw a surge in demand with orders increasing exponentially due to the COVID-19 confinement situation. Previously NutritionInsight reported on how to ensure food safety and healthy nutrition in light of the stockpiling issue. “Canned and frozen fruit and vegetables can be a good option as they are highly nutritious, affordable and easy to cook with,” suggested Aisling Pigott, Dietician at the British Dietetic Association (BDA). Pulses and lentils are another good choice, as they are high in protein, fiber and nutrients, she adds.

HelloFresh sees high demand
Popular meal delivery service HelloFresh saw a surge in demand with orders increasing exponentially due to the COVID-19 confinement situation. The company delivers kits with fresh produce and ingredients that boast a healthy profile. Consumers order the ingredients and then cook them at home themselves, taking advantage of both the convenience of delivery and the experience of cooking.

Last month, The New York Times reported that shares in the meal-kit delivery firm went up by 14 percent, rendering the company the biggest gainer on the German mid-cap index. This record high came after it said it expected strong first-quarter sales and profit due to a surge in demand as coronavirus lockdowns prompt more people to cook at home. 

HelloFresh also announced plans to expand its workforce by 50 percent at its Banbury, UK, factory to cope with “strong growth.” The company revealed that it would offer 400 people three-month contracts to pick and pack orders. 

However, news broke last week that HelloFresh left its customers without food after being overwhelmed with orders during the coronavirus crisis. Huge numbers of customers have complained on the company’s Twitter feed after relying on the recipe boxes while self-isolating. People have reported problems including missing boxes, missing ingredients, orders being cancelled last minute and a lack of communication from HelloFresh. 

HelloFresh also announced plans to expand its workforce by 50 percent at its Banbury, UK, factory to cope with “strong growth.”In response, HelloFresh released a statement saying they are “doing their best to keep up with the demand.”

Delivery services surge in popularity
Beyond cooking for themselves however, consumers are turning to food delivery for convenience, as they don’t have to venture outside to source the ingredients or prepare the meals themselves. Last week, the UK government distributed food parcels to the people most vulnerable to COVID-19. According to Sustain, 50,000 food parcels were delivered, ramping up to a possible 400,000 per week over the next month. The national picture is not yet clear, the organization states, but Sustain says that informal photos taken by warehouse workers and food parcel recipients and shared on social media show a mixed picture of food quality – sugary cereal, white bread, long-life milk, satsumas and carrots, teabags, snacks, tins of tuna and corned beef. 

Concern for those more vulnerable also led to a partnership between plant-based meal kit company Purple Carrot and Fruit Street Health a diabetes prevention program (DPP) offered through live group video conferencing with Registered Dietitians (RDs). The collaboration seeks to provide dietitian-approved, plant-based meals to Fruit Street participants. Additionally, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to enable more people to take advantage of this offering. Fruit Street is now allowing anyone, from low-risk individuals to people with Type 2 diabetes, to sign up for its healthy lifestyle/DPP program at a reduced cost. 

Moreover, NatureBox has teamed up with corporate offices around the US and Canada to deliver curated snacking boxes for employees. As businesses in North America shift to having their employees work from home, many companies are providing the same perks seen in the office, delivered directly to their teams at home. NatureBox delivers directly to homes, or can set up employees with a code to pick their own snack boxes. Snacks range from classic favorites to a new line of adaptogenic snacks with functional benefits like stress relief, enhanced focus and increased energy. 

In light of these rapid developments, NutritionInsight has launched a daily news feed for the coronavirus-related information and insights you need to guide your business through this challenging period. 

By Kristiana Lalou