Paleo reigns in US take-outs
THE most popular regime in takeout dining in the United States is the Paleo Diet, a restrictive lifestyle that supposedly mimics the diets of our ancestors when they were huntergatherers.
That's according to a new survey by take-out service Grubhub, which analysed the volume of its take-out orders to extract conclusions on American diet habits. Compared to 2015, online and mobile orders of Paleo foods increased 370% in 2016 across the United States, says Grubhub, outpacing the raw diet, juice cleanse, veganism and glutenfree diets which round out the top five eating plans.
For the uninitiated, the Paleolithic diet – also known as the Caveman or Stone Age Diet – replicates the kinds of foods that would only have been available to Paleolithic humans. That means fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, nuts and seeds are allowed, but dairy, legumes, cereals and sugars are not.
For the survey, analysts looked at a combination of dietary tags and specific eating plans in order data from Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2016. The results were also broken down by city to reveal some interesting trends.
For example, Seattle emerged the most health-conscious, most finicky city in the United States, with more residents placing special dietary orders for their take-out meal than any other city – Seattleites order 309% more foods related to eating plans and diets compared to the rest of the country.
The most popular eating plan in that city? Gluten-free foods.
Elsewhere, you're more likely to find vegans in cities like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Chicago, while New Yorkers, Bostonians and residents in San Francisco are more likely to order low-fat meals.
The Paleo diet is particularly popular in Texas, with Dallas, Houston and Austin, where locals favour the caveman's diet. – AFP Relaxnews