Changes in eating habits, nutrition trends, and lifestyle-associated factors in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

We are living in unprecedented times. The COVID-19 pandemic, from its onset in late 2019, can be regarded as a transformative period in terms of changes it brought about in the lives of people worldwide, in particular, in the context of food, nutrition, and health. Widespread disruptions of food systems, instigated by logistical restrictions amid fears of spread of infection led to impairment of supply chains, and potential shortages of food (Galanakis, 2020). Moreover, partial, or complete lockdown procedures led to closures of establishments such as restaurants and hotels, schools, universities, and workplaces, as well as travel restrictions, changed the way the people gained access to food, as well as how, and where the food was prepared (Janssen et al., 2021). Additionally, many COVID-19-associated psychological factors could have significantly influenced dietary behaviors, in particular, in people staying at home owing to a variety of reasons including work-from-home, digital education, and even self-isolation (Bennett et al., 2021).

Keywords COVID-19, Self-isolation, Nutrition , Dietary behaviors