COVID-19report 20: HEALTH AT HOME5.22.20

In the past few months, the COVID crisis has challenged nearly all facets of

our lives. We’ve had to abruptly abandon our old way of life to transition into

a sort of survival mode. Medical experts tell us a healthy lifestyle is our only

recourse, but eating healthfully has become a challenge with food shortages

and skyrocketing prices. We are more sedentary, confined to our homes

with no access to gyms. Add to that, without sure treatments or a vaccine in

the near term, we must rely solely on social distancing, masks, and putting

our trust in those around us. Health has never been more important as the

country opens back up and risk becomes more imminent.

How has the pandemic changed consumers’ attitudes and behaviors around

health and wellness, and how can restaurants help them stay the course?

Here are highlights from Datassential’s latest wave of Coronavirus research,

fielded May 12 and May 19 with 2,000 US consumers.

contact Mark Brandau to dive deeper:mark.brandau@datassential.com / 847.505.9460

May 19

CDC releases detailed guidance on reopening previously shelved by White HouseLouisiana DMV closes same day it reopened over fear of Coronavirus spread

U.S., Canada, Mexico extend border restrictions8 restaurant CEOs press Trump on Paycheck Protection Program extension at White House

May 20

President Trump calls having highest number of COVID cases a "badge of honor“US economic policy leaders split on reopening

U.S. births fall, and experts predict virus could drive them down more

May 21

Labor Dept.: Another 2.4 million people filed for unemployment in second week of MayDeath toll in the US rises to 93,439

Latin America overtakes US and Europe in new Coronavirus cases three days in a rowStarbucks CEO says coffee chain’s sales have reached 60% to 65% of pre-COVID levels

May 22

Year-over-year sales of hydroxychloroquine doubled in March, researchers sayLancet study links hydroxychloroquine to increased risk of death for COVID-19 patients

Taco Bell announces plans to hire 30,000 people this summer

RECENT KEY EVENTS

Concern remains steady and below April levels.

41%

49%

61% 61% 61% 60%

67%65%

61%64%

60% 61% 60%56%

54%56%

53%56%

March 10 May 19

very concerned with Coronavirus

March April May

10 14 18 22 25 29 1 3 7 10 15 17 23 27 1 7 14 19

Very concerned 41% 49% 61% 61% 61% 60% 67% 65% 61% 64% 60% 61% 60% 56% 54% 56% 53% 56%

Somewhat concerned 49% 42% 34% 35% 34% 33% 28% 28% 34% 31% 35% 33% 34% 37% 37% 34% 38% 37%

Not concerned 10% 8% 5% 4% 5% 7% 5% 7% 6% 5% 5% 6% 6% 7% 9% 10% 9% 7%

47%

60%

42% 42%

56%

65%

54%

48% 46%

57%

Men Women Gen Z Millennial Gen X Boomer Married Single Kids No Kids

Avoidance of eating out remains steady over the past few weeks.Less than a month into the reopening of dining rooms in some states, avoidance of eating out hasn’t budged in the past five days. Worries among women and Gen Z have risen sharply since May 14.

54% definitely avoideating out

27% are nervous, but will still eat out

19% have no concernswhatsoever

+3% since May 14

+34% since Mar 10

-2% since May 14

-12% since Mar 10

-1% since May 14

-22% since Mar 10

Mar 10

DEFINITELY AVOID EATING OUT

May 19

Health concerns remain top priority, but financial concerns are slowly edging closer.

45%ECONOMIC CRISIS+4% since May 14+8% since April 7

55%PUBLIC-HEALTH CRISIS

-4% since May 14-8% since April 7

which are you more concerned about?

Even with the U.S. starting to reopen, many Americans remain working or learning at home.

which of the following best

describes your current situation?

19%STILL GOING TO

SCHOOL/WORK AS NORMAL

32%NOT WORKING OVERALL

17%LAID OFF / FURLOUGHED

32%WORKING OR ATTENDING

SCHOOL REMOTELY

Healthy living lets people take control. The COVID pandemic has managed to impact almost everything. Beyond what occurs in the “sheltered-in” bubbles that have become our lives, there is very little we have been able to control. We have turned to Zoom to make up for social voids and pulled out jigsaw puzzles to pass the time, but simply relying on masks and social distancing has left many feeling powerless in their quest to stay COVID-free. All along, medical experts have recommended we adhere to a healthy lifestyle. Eating well and exercising have provided not only physical benefits, but with the promise of boosting immunity, they have also offered a tool for people to feel like they have a little bit of control.

As restaurants initially open with limited menus, they should consider healthful options and immunity-boosting ingredients to make diners feel even better about dining out.

We eat meat.

More than half of Americans eat meat on a regular basis, with another one in four limiting their intake but not cutting meat out completely. Married couples are more likely to consume meat regularly, while Gen Z are more likely than others to be vegan or vegetarian.

which of the following best

describes the way you eat today?

I eat meat on a regular basis 60%

I actively limit the amount of meat I eat, but do not exclude meat entirely 24%

I do not eat products with any animal involvement 6%

I do not eat meat or seafood/fish, but I do eat dairy and eggs 4%

I do not eat red meat, but I do eat poultry 4%

I do not eat meat, but I do eat seafood/fish 3%

Weight loss is the #1 driver of healthy living.

With obesity a public health crisis in the United States, weight loss is the strongest motivation to lead a healthy lifestyle. Americans are also driven by more tangible benefits like better sleep, increased energy, and looking good.

which of these are most motivating to

you for leading a healthy lifestyle?

Weight loss / management 46%

Sleep better / sleep management 43%

Increasing energy / reducing fatigue 40%

Looking good (in general) 40%

Longevity (living longer) 39%

Mental sharpness / alertness (better memory, concentration, etc.) 39%

Age better (reducing signs of ageing) 39%

Building immunity (boosting your immune system) / preventing illness 37%

Mood improvement (reducing stress / anxiety) 32%

Dietary / nutritional balance (a diet with a good ratio) 29%

Avoiding cancer 27%

Building muscle / elevated fitness 24%

Detoxifying (cleansing body of toxins) 13%

None of these 10%

Some hope to stack the deck in their favor.

While masks and social distancing are helpful against the Coronavirus, some are looking for added assurance. One in four Americans carefully manages underlying conditions, upping the ante with diet and exercise, taking more vitamins, and cutting back on alcohol. Younger people are making the most changes, while Boomers seem to be least impacted by the #COVID15.

have you made changes in how you eat and live in

response to the COVID-19 / Coronavirus pandemic?

I've been more vigilant about managing pre-existing conditions 45%

I’ve been eating healthier 44%

I've been drinking less alcohol 44%

I’ve been exercising more 41%

I’ve gained weight since Coronavirus and shelter-in-place began 40%

I've been taking more vitamins and / or supplements 39%

I've been drinking less caffeine 32%

I’ve been trying to eat less meat since Coronavirus began 31%

I’ve been eating poorly / less healthy 30%

I’ve been attending virtual exercise / fitness classes online 25%

Healthy living helps us fight from within.

Most Americans believe that all components of a healthy lifestyle — eating immune boosting foods, taking vitamins/minerals and exercising — are beneficial to protection and recovery from illness. Ironically, younger people, who tend to live healthier, are a bit more skeptical of the protective value of diet and exercise.

thinking about how COVID-19 / Coronavirus has impacted

how you might think about food and maintaining a healthy

diet, do you agree with the following statements?

Your diet has a major impact on how well your body fights / protects against illness 78%

Exercise / physical fitness can help boost my immunity against Coronavirus and other viruses 74%

Certain vitamins and minerals can help boost my immunity against Coronavirus and other viruses 71%

Focusing on a healthy lifestyle helps me cope with my stress / anxiety about the Coronavirus pandemic 71%

Certain foods and ingredients can help boost my immunity against Coronavirus and other viruses 70%

A healthy diet will help with recovery if I get Coronavirus 70%

Certain vitamins and minerals can help with recovery from Coronavirus and other viruses 65%

Certain foods and ingredients can help with recovery from Coronavirus and other viruses 62%

A healthy diet will reduce my risk of getting Coronavirus 55%

Your diet (the way you eat) has little / no impact on how well your body fights / protects against illness 34%

Age plays a role in shifting health priorities. More than half of Americans haven’t changed their health habits since the onset of COVID. This is especially true of Boomers, who already have a healthy lifestyle high on their radar with age-related illnesses. While younger generations are known for being health-conscious, close to half have stepped up their game even more since the onset.

since the Coronavirus pandemic began, leading a

healthy lifestyle (diet and exercise, etc.) has become…

56%NO CHANGE

More likely among Boomers (69%)

35%MORE OF A PRIORITYMore likely among Gen Z (46%) and Millennials (43%)

9%LESS OF A PRIORITYMore likely among Gen Z (20%)Less likely among Boomers (4%)

Sheltering in place has made healthful living more accessible and easier to prioritize.

While the desire to strengthen immunity is a key reason for better living, conditions in our “new normal” have also made it easier. With extra time on our hands and more frequent cooking from scratch, the transition to eating more healthfully has become easier for many people.

why has leading a healthy lifestyle become more of a

priority since the Coronavirus pandemic began?

Healthy living is more of a

priority

Trying to strengthen my immune system because of Coronavirus 46%

I'm cooking more — it’s easier to eat healthy now 44%

I have more time now (was wanting to do this anyway) 39%

Combating weight gain from being stuck at home 36%

Reduces my stress / anxiety from Coronavirus 36%

Gets me moving / out of the house 34%

Boredom — it's something to do / focus on 29%

Setting a good example for my family / kids 23%

Fitness / meal planning online apps are free or discounted 23%

I am at higher risk for Coronavirus (pre-existing condition, etc.) 22%

Now is when I normally do this anyway (not because of Coronavirus) 17%

Joining friends / family who are doing this too 14%

which of the following foods / ingredients do you

believe could help boost your immunity and / or

strengthen your recovery in case you get sick?

39%

36%

36%

36%

30

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29%

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26%

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23%

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21%

19%

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18%

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15%

13%

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10%

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17%

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59%

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33%

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27%

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which of the following nutrients do you believe could help boost

your immunity and / or strengthen your recovery in case you get sick?

Restaurant meals turned disease busters.

Without a near-term vaccine or treatment, Americans are looking for alternate ways to rev up their immune systems during the pandemic, giving a new boost to the functional-foods trend. While half would only consider ordering immune boosters from the typical healthy venues, another half would love to transform all their restaurant foods into disease fighters. Millennials, driven by health and convenience, are quite interested in this idea. And why not? It’s a shortcut to healthful eating and a “hall pass” to feel less guilt about that big juicy burger.

do you agree with the following statements

about immunity-boosting elements in your food?

I wish immunity-boosting foods/ingredients were an option at all the places I go out to eat 51%

I would only consider ordering immunity-boosting items from places that are known for healthy foods. 51%

I want immunity-boosting ingredients in everything I eat (burgers, burritos, pastas, pizza, etc.) 48%

I wish there was an option to add “immunity boosters” to any / all foods or dishes that I order from a restaurant 47%

I wish there was an option to add “immunity boosters” to any / all beverages that I order from a restaurant 45%

I would only consider ordering immunity-boosting items from places where I’ve seen similar things before 44%

I only want immunity-boosting ingredients in healthy foods or dishes (smoothies, salads, etc.) 43%

I only want immunity-boosting ingredients in drinks (smoothies, shakes, juice blends, etc.) 41%

I only want immunity-boosting ingredients in cold foods (smoothies, salads, raw foods, etc.) 36%

COVID takes a (temporary) bite out of the meteoric rise of plant-based burgers.

While plant-based burgers are as popular as ever, frequent and occasional consumption have decreased by about one-third during the pandemic. This may be in part due to widespread restaurant closures, especially for Millennials, who are less likely to cook. The good news is that half of Americans will consider them once the pandemic is over.

which of the following best describes

your personal experience with plant-

based burgers BEFORE the pandemic?

which of the following best describes

your personal experience with plant-

based burgers DURING the pandemic?

do you think you'll be interested in eating

plant-based burgers going forward (once

the pandemic is behind us)?

22%Ate plant-based

burgers regularly

31%Ate plant-based

burgers once or twice

46%Never tried plant-

based burgers

51%Yes, probably

49%No, probably not

15%Eating plant-based burgers regularly

21%Eating plant-based

burgers once or twice

63%Have not eaten any

Visit Datassential’s Coronavirus Resource Library at datassential.com/Coronavirus, your one-stop shop for all COVID-19 research reports, video interviews, restaurant closure maps, and Traffic Briefings, all updated daily as new data come out of the field.

Help us help you.As the Coronavirus situation continues to evolve rapidly, just tell us what you want to know. If it’s something that benefits the food industry, we’ll do our best to incorporate it into an upcoming report and provide the results to everyone for free.

And if you have a need that’s specific to your company or brand, we would love to design a custom research solution for you.

312-655-0622

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America’s chain restaurant landscape, reframed in the age of COVID-19.

Datassential’s recently-released Firefly 500+ Report dives deep into the metrics of chain restaurant success: annual sales, unit counts,

and AUVs; year-over-year growth numbers; and consumer insights from SCORES and BrandFingerprints. This year, the report also includes custom research about COVID-19's impact on the chain

restaurant landscape, compiled from March to early May.

contact Brian Darr to find out more:brian.darr@datassential.com / 312.655.0594