Interest in glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1 medications, are on the rise, most notably with weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic as drivers for weight loss management. Daily Harvest integrated insights from a survey it conducted with OnePoll to tailor the development of the fully plant-based GLP-1 Companion Food Collection and its associated nutrition programs to better cater to the preferences and health goals of its diverse consumer base.
The collection features whole ingredients like fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts and seeds for its pre-portioned plans which contain low saturated fat, high fiber and no added sugar to “support weight management and heart health, and … to support satiety [and] digestion,” Schneider explained.
She elaborated, “Our GLP-1 Companion Food Collection was designed with convenience in mind, catering to individuals who might not be accustomed to a plant-predominant diet, as a way to introduce nutrient-rich foods that are calorie-conscious and pre-portioned to support their weight loss journey.”
According to the survey, more than a third of respondents said they would try a GLP-1 medication to lose weight, with 48% of Millennials reporting they’re most likely to try the medication to lose weight, followed by 44% of Gen Z; while 66% of seniors over the age of 59 are least likely to try. Researching these medications are also important to Gen Z and Millennials, with 78% and 75%, respectively, reporting they need to learn more.
Schneider noted that the interest in these medications created an opportunity for Daily Harvest to pair their potential use with healthy meal options.
“The [OnePoll] data, paired with information we’ve collected from the Daily Harvest community, tells us that people who are taking GLP-1s want to educate themselves on how best to pair the medications with healthy eating and exercise,” Schneider said.
More than half of respondents described themselves as following “very healthy” diets and found the weight loss medications to be appealing compared to 37% who do not follow healthy diets. Almost half (45%) would eschew these medications and 42% cited uncertainty around the long-term effects of GLP-1s, while 35% reasoned they do not have a medical need for them and 23% being unable to afford them.
Daily Harvest’s January Jumpstart plan encourages new and existing members to achieve their personal health goals through nutrition. In light of the survey’s findings where 66% of consumers correlate food with how they feel, Daily Harvest developed its January plan around five days of curated meals across breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack time made from farm-to-frozen fruits and vegetables.
Provenance and sustainability were also notable motivators among those polled, with 61% reporting awareness of where their food comes from and 43% reporting they’re more than likely to purchase food that’s sustainably sourced or organically grown.
Along with weight management (26%), eating healthier (48%), improving heart health (32%), raising energy levels (25%) and managing stress levels (20%) were among the top motivators from those polled to purchase sustainably sourced foods.
