Hungry? You may not be craving the kinds of foods you used to.
Since 2001, Canadians have eaten 703 million fewer servings of potatoes per year -- rice servings have increased by 297 million. This according to Eating Patterns in Canada (EPIC), a study done by The NDP Group. Flavoured tea consumption, like green tea, is also on the rise.
So what's up with our eating habits?
According to the study, the steady rate of Asian immigration into the country -- and the cultural traditions, including the foods these immigrants eat -- is heavily influencing our diet.
When it comes to meat, we're giving beef the boot -- servings have decreased by 384 million meals per year. But seafood and pork consumption, both common foods in Asia, has spiked to 248 million and 372 million servings per annum, respectively. (This stat isn't really surprising given a study last year which claimed 43 per cent of Canadians would choose bacon over sex.)
Canadian women are especially jumping on the Asian food bandwagon. They're flocking to ethnic restaurants to satisfy their cravings for hot, spicy dishes. Seventy-three per cent of Canadians want more ethnically-inspired menu options when they go to restaurants.
It's a trend the Government of Canada seems to have embraced -- Canada's food guide has been overhauled to include more ethnic foods to reflect the growing diversity of the population.
For parents, adapting to these changes and adding more international options to your children's meals can be scary -- but it needn't be. We previously gave tips on how to add ethnic flair to your kid's brown bagged lunches.
And if you're worried about the effect these dietary changes may be having on your health, don't be: Asian dishes are considered to be amongst the world's healthiest.
What are some of the healthiest ethnic cuisines from around the world? Check out the top 10.