How do you know what food is the safest and healthiest to eat? Nowadays, there are so many options—cooking, going out, ordering over the phone, ordering online—that it can be difficult to pinpoint which is the best option for you.
While each has benefits, ranging from the amount of effort required to the amount of time before eating, food safety professionals now believe that ordering food online is the best bet on the road to improving health.
Read on to find out three reasons food safety professionals believe that ordering food online is beneficial.
1. Grads of Food Safety Programs Might Know Online Shopping Reduces Impulse Eating
In Canada, snacking makes up a quarter of both children and adolescent calorie consumption, higher than the calorie count of the average breakfast. In fact, 30 per cent of the calories that Canadians consume daily do not belong to the ‘Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide.’ For those interested in food safety and quality, this is an alarming trend, as the food being consumed is often loaded with sodium and sugar. These foods are not always the healthiest option, though they are the most popular. One of the reasons why many people still opt for them is because most people do not act solely based on logic when shopping or ordering food. There is an emotional impulse in your mind, urging you to choose the less healthy option which likely has more calories and less nutritional value.
Ordering food in restaurants activates the emotional part of your brain
Studies have discovered that the act of speaking out loud activates the emotional part of your brain, but not the critical thinking part. What this means is that ordering food online can lead to healthier alternatives, because the act of vocalizing your order and triggering the emotional side of your brain doesn’t take place.
2. Ordering Food Online Allows Consumers to View the Whole Menu at Once
Students enrolled in a food safety program understand that every person approaches food differently. They bring with them their memories and their fears that guide how comfortable they will be when it comes to trying new foods. No matter how many assurances they get about the quality or safety of the food, some people will absolutely refuse to try anything new. Some of these pickier eaters will constantly order the same foods, unwilling to order something unfamiliar, which could potentially be healthier.
The fear of ordering something new is often diminished when ordering online. First off, the entire menu is available at a glance, so customers can scan it to see if anything might be worth trying. On top of that, customers don’t have to commit to eating from that restaurant if nothing seems appealing. However, if they do find something they like, they can order it without the fear of being judged, watched, or rushed.
3. Pros With Food Safety Training Know Online Shoppers Choose Healthier Options
Food safety training involves learning how to assess and assure the quality and safety of specific foods. Some food safety schools even incorporate courses on GMPs and HACCP so that students can understand industrial standards on every level.
In addition, it is also important to understand what food is on a basic level. For example, bread contains a lot of calories. Studies have shown that when people order online, they tend to order less side dishes (bread, potatoes, rice) than they would if they were at a restaurant. Similarly, customers were more likely to opt for the healthier dessert option when they placed an order electronically.
A majority of people that order food electronically opt for healthier options
A career in food safety leads to a better understanding of what types of food are healthy, and how to ensure they’ve retained their safety and quality while being made. It is a field ripe with career opportunities and growth.
Are you interested in pursuing a food safety diploma?
Visit AAPS for more information or to speak with an advisor.