Major shifts among key demographics in the U.S. population will have a significant impact on the nation’s eating habits, according to a new report from The NPD Group titled “The Future of Eating: Who’s Eating What in 2018?”  The report presented a five-year forecast (2013-2018) for more than 200 in-home food and beverage-related behaviors, attitudes and characteristics related to the food choices of groups such as Baby Boomers, Millennials (ages 24-37), Generation Z (ages 0-23) and Hispanics. “Generation Z, Millennials and Hispanics will be the growth drivers of this country’s eating patterns over the next five years,” said Darren Seifer, NPD food and beverage industry analyst. “This is a pivotal time to gain their favor as many of their habits are being formed now. Most are still at a life stage when their behaviors are flexible and they are receptive.”

The global information company predicted the influence of Baby Boomers and older Americans on eating patterns will fade as their populations and households shrink, and the impact of Generation Z and Millennials, which made up more than half of the U.S. population in 2013, will significantly increase.

The report also anticipated that Generation Z and Millennials will drive changes with their approach to food choice and preparation. These groups want more involvement, not necessarily more complexity, in preparing their food and meals, particularly at breakfast. Breakfast foods that are perceived to be fresher and require more prep or cooking, like eggs, hot cereal and center-plate proteins, are projected to grow by 8% over the next five years. Use of additives, another example that the younger generations want to have a say in the final output of their prepared foods, is expected to grow among Generation Z and Millennial groups by 9% and 8%, respectively, over the next five years.

The tastes and choices of U.S. Hispanics, which make up a large percentage of the Generation Z and Millennials groups, will also continue to grow in importance over the next five years. NPD’s research suggested Hispanics, including those born in the U.S., will continue to prepare and cook traditional Latino foods. The consumption of Hispanic foods, excluding frozen foods, is forecasted to increase by 7% over the next five years among U.S. Hispanic Millennials. This group’s preference also leans toward foods that are fresh and natural and that enable the cook to control the flavoring of the end product.

On the other end of the age spectrum, the Baby Boomer generation is aging, considering retirement, becoming empty nesters and developing health ailments, all of which are typically associated with major changes in how food and beverage consumption is approached. While shrinking in size, this generation is still too large to ignore, especially given their expected changes, according to NPD’s study. This group will be less driven by the latest fads and more by what they need to sustain their health and lifestyles. Whole grains, protein and calcium, or low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium will be important to younger and older Boomer groups now and in the coming years.