1. What is the effect of junk food on the human brain?

2. What are the psichological effects of obesity?

3. What negative aspects does eating healthy have?
4. How did the pandemic change eating habits?
5. What are the problems of following a diet?

1. How did the pandemic impact the obesity rates of people?

2. What did the biggest impact on changing the eating habits during the pandemic?
3. Did the pandemic leave a mark on the food people eat now?
4. Were there any trends in the diet of people during the period of the pandemic?
5. How did peoples diets adapt to the challenges that were caused by the pandemic?

• The pandemic has changed eating habits for a lot of people. For example, obesity rose by 3%
during the pandemic, but the amount of people who exercise rose by 4,4% and the amount of
sleep people get rose by 1,5%, which means the only cause of obesity could be unhealthy
eating habits and/or increased consumption of alcohol.
https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2022/july/adult-obesity-prevalence-increased-during-
the-first-year-of-the-covid-19-pandemic/
• The COVID-19 pandemic impacted eating habits significantly. The biggest influences were:
1. Increased home cooking due to lockdowns and restaurant closures.
2. A focus on healthier eating for improved immunity.
3. Coping with stress through comfort foods.
•The pandemic has created a lasting impact on people's eating habits. A lot of people have
become more healthy and conscious about what they eat and have started cooking at home
more often. Additionally, a survey done by Acosta shows, that 92% of customers will continue to
dine at home.
https://www.supermarketnews.com/consumer-trends/study-most-us-consumers-stick-eating-
home-post-pandemic
•A study done by frontiersin.org shows that 15–42% of the studies participants changed their
frequency of consumption during the pandemic compared to previously, depending on the type
of food. Frozen food, canned food, and cake and biscuits had the highest rates of change while
bread, alcoholic beverages, and dairy goods had the lowest rates of change. While there was a
general decrease in the consumption of fresh foods during the lockdown, there was an increase
in the consumption of long shelf life products.
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2021.635859/full
•People's diets altered in a number of different ways during the pandemic. Many people turned
to pantry essentials like canned goods and dried foods as a result of lockdowns and supply
chain disruptions. Home cooking increased, putting more of an emphasis on homemade,
healthier meals. Due to a lack of meat people also investigated alternate protein sources, such
as plant-based alternatives. However, stress eating and the popularity of comfort foods also
increased as individuals turned to their familiar tastes for consolation in uncertain times.
It's difficult to deal with the eating problems caused by the pandemic due to the fact that it's a
recent event in history, but establishing an eating routine helps prevent emotional eating and
staying active helps maintain correct bodily functions, so the body doesn't crave unhealthy
foods as much. Remember that it's normal to have fluctuations in eating habits during stressful
times, but with patience and these strategies, you can work towards a healthier food habits in
this post-pandemic world.

WAY TO MAKE: Air Fryer

RECIPE:
2 medium zucchini

225g block haloumi

150g (1 cup) frozen corn kernels

2 Eggs

100g (2/3 cup) self-raising flour

3 tsp oregano leaves

Olive oil (optional)

Natural yoghurt

Use your hands to squeeze out the excess liquid from the zucchini. Place zucchini in a bowl.
Add the haloumi and corn. Stir to combine. Make a well in the centre and add the egg, flour and
oregano. Season and stir until well combined.
Preheat an air fryer to 200C. Drop tablespoonfuls of the zucchini mixture onto the air fryer rack.
Cook for 8 minutes or until crisp and golden. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with the remaining
mixture in 2 more batches.
Arrange warm fritters on a serving plate. Place yoghurt in a small serving bowl. Season the
yoghurt with black pepper and drizzle over olive oil, if using. Serve scattered with extra oregano.