Russians have become more likely to choose healthy snacks instead of fast food

By World Obesity Day, the leading Russian grocery retailer X5 Group analyzed the structure of consumer demand and found that about 30% of Russians adhere to dietary restrictions and more often choose lighter alternatives to traditional fast food. The survey data was reviewed on March 5 by Izvestia.

According to the company, the diets of those who follow special diets and those who do not follow diets differ by 36%. This suggests that the trend towards mindful eating does not affect individual categories, but rather the structure of consumption as a whole.

During the day, consumer preferences change depending on the time of day, but the general principle remains the same — diversity without strict restrictions. In the segment of ready meals for breakfast, sandwiches and porridges are most often chosen. At lunch, soups are in demand — chicken with noodles and borscht, as well as chicken or schnitzel with mashed potatoes. For dinner, customers often buy pasta and cutlets with side dishes.

At the same time, salads occupy a significant share in the basket — from classic olivier and herring under a fur coat to lighter options: sea cabbage with seafood, asparagus and carrots in Korean. Onigiri is becoming increasingly popular as a snack, which is increasingly perceived as a more balanced alternative to fast food on the go.

At the same time, Russians do not give up high-calorie meals. Among the fastest growing categories are salads with mayonnaise dressing, snacks (pies, draniki, chicken wings, ham rolls), sandwiches and desserts. Customers are more likely to supplement their usual positions with more balanced products than completely eliminate them from the diet.

The company notes that modern consumers strive to understand the composition of products and be confident in their quality, without sacrificing taste and convenience.

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Pavel Biryukov, a bariatric surgeon at the SM Clinic, spoke to Izvestia on February 22 about the ineffectiveness of diets for obesity. According to him, they rarely give a stable result, because the body activates defense mechanisms and slows down the metabolism.

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