How Italians' eating habits change: the Coldiretti investigation

Coldiretti survey on the eating habits of Italians

During the health emergency from C o v i d 1 9, the Italians started a "new course" in the kitchen, preparing pizza, bread, pasta and desserts at home, with the double intent of fighting the boredom of long days in lockdown and to overcome the difficulty of going out to shop.

On balance, this initiative resulted in an increased skill in the kitchen, which proved useful even later, when social restrictions were almost completely eliminated, but the problem of 'high bills' and the increase in costs of raw materials.

Even today, in fact, 81% of Italians say they prefer home preparations of everyday foods, compared to the purchase of ready-made products, sold in stores.

This is confirmed by a recent survey by Coldiretti which, in this trend, identifies not only the intention to tackle the rise in food prices and reduce waste, but also a search for a guarantee on the genuineness and traceability of the foods to be brought to the table.

Italians in the kitchen: no more "cooks by chance"

Since they are faced with the consequences of a new emergency - this time of an economic nature - 8 out of 10 Italians declare that they have changed their eating habits, essentially choosing to personally prepare preserves, bread, pasta, pizza and other widely consumed foods.

Such a high percentage of people who prefer to buy raw materials rather than finished products can be explained, first of all, by the need to counter the consequences of the crisis without giving up the pleasures of the table.

But the choice of the Italians also has another reason: domestic preparations are characterized by the guarantee of genuineness of the elements they contain.

The ingredients used to make the different recipes can, in fact, be selected from the most natural ones, thus also simplifying the traceability of raw materials.

It is no longer just a need dictated by a contingent situation: for many inhabitants of the Bel Paese, cooking meals and preferring preparations that give ample space to imagination and creativity has become a passion that, in addition, allows you to reduce spending. global for the purchase of ready-made products and to rationalize consumption.

The favorite preparations of Italians with a passion for cooking

With the restart of sociality, the relationship of our compatriots with dinners organized at home has evolved: it is estimated that, today, a good 30% do not wait for the holidays to invite friends and relatives and, on average, once a week, they share the table with its guests.

Pizza is confirmed as the most appreciated product by diners of all ages and the one most often made in domestic kitchens throughout the national territory.

The natural attitude of foods such as pizzas and focaccias to create aggregation and moments of conviviality, has now convinced even the youngest to juggle doughs and fillings.

This is an activity that is defined as "pleasant and rewarding", also facilitated by the new technological tools available, which allow rapid and precise cooking, with results that are increasingly close to those of professional pizzerias.

On the podium of the most recurrent preparations we also find two foods for daily consumption, bread and pasta; immediately after, the tomato sauce and preserves, sweet or savory, but among the fans of home cooking, there is no shortage of those who want to make sweets, ice creams and yoghurt.

In all this, there is also another curious fact: often the goal of "do-it-yourself" cooks is to surprise.

Not surprisingly, a good 57% of them say they love experimenting with new recipes, to make which they buy raw materials they have never tried, attempting forays, with more or less positive results, into ethnic and exotic gastronomy.

However, 43% of Italians remain who, cautiously, prefer to rely on well-known dishes, capable of offering universally appreciated flavors and safe results.