Need to Know
20 : 11 : 19

London – The School of Life has published a collection of recipes for emotional wellbeing.

Combining philosophy and psychology, Thinking & Eating posits the idea that food plays a vital role in our emotional health as well as our physical health. The book highlights the connections between what we feel and what we eat, building on notions such as ‘comfort food’ and ‘stress eating’ in order to suggest how various ingredients can alter our moods and emotions.

Exploring the ways in which food and drink intersect with our psychological needs, recipes are arranged according to the emotional states they inspire. ‘We want to show how ingredients and dishes can be supporters of certain ideas, emotions and states of mind that best help us confront the challenges of existence,’ says The School of Life.

A menu of conversation starters also seeks to promote fulfilling discussions around the table. Similarly, our forthcoming macrotrend, Home Eatertainment – launching here on 22 November – examines how food and drink’s role in our fundamental need to belong is changing the way we eat, drink and entertain at home.

Charleston – Boutique hotel Zero George has partnered with meal delivery service Sakara to extend its relationship with guests beyond check-out.

The meal plan, which aims to help guests ease back into healthy eating routines after their vacation, is part of Zero George’s new Holy City Detox package. As part of a minimum two-night stay, the full package includes individual and group fitness classes by The Works, dinner for two at Zero Restaurant, a copy of One Part Plant, a cookbook by wellness expert Jessica Murnane, and a three-day meal plan from Sakara, delivered to guests’ homes after they return.

‘We wanted to do a package that extended when guests get back home,’ Vinson Petrillo, executive chef at Zero, tells Travel + Leisure. ‘In essence, you come to Zero George and have a completely indulgent culinary experience and then you get ‘on track’ with The Works and are already set up for success when you get home with Sakara. It alleviates the post-vacation blues and gives travellers something to look forward to when getting back.’

By looking to support guests in their wellness efforts after their stay and encourage longer-term thinking, Zero George is tapping into shifts we identified in our Conscious Deceleration macrotrend.

Global – The messaging app has introduced a catalogue feature allowing WhatsApp Business users to showcase and share products via a mobile storefront.

According to WhatsApp, the tool will enable people to browse and discover products within the app. Previously, businesses had to send product photos individually and were required to repeatedly provide information. With the addition of this feature, however, customers can now see full product catalogues without having to exit the app or visit a website.

While transactions still take place outside the app, businesses can add information including price, description and product code for each item in their catalogue. To save storage space on the phones of both businesses and consumers, all of this is also hosted by WhatsApp. The tool, which is now available to businesses in Brazil, Germany, India, Indonesia, Mexico, the UK and the US, will be rolled out globally soon.

As we explore in our Shoppable Social market, social commerce continues to grow as new technologies and in-platform features transform the way consumers buy and interact with products.

A new report sheds light on snacking as a growing behaviour worldwide. As per Mondelēz International’s State of Snacking report, snacking is on the rise as more consumers opt for snacks over meals. Globally, six in 10 adults say they prefer to eat small meals throughout the day, rather than a few larger ones. Among Millennials, that number rises to 70%.

For 87% of adults, convenience ranks as the top driver for snack choices, followed by quality (85%). Health is another driver, with 80% of consumers looking for healthy, balanced bites and 71% saying snacking helps them control their hunger and manage their calorie intake throughout the day.

For more on how snacking is changing our relationship with food, keep an eye out for our upcoming Snacking Market, launching in December.