From Dull to Dazzling: How FoodMo Inspires Kitchen Innovations

We’ve all felt the fear of missing out. Whether it’s after seeing photos from someone’s summer trip to Europe or the picture of the sunset someone saw last night, we’ve all felt that familiar twinge of unease. This emotional undercurrent fuels the idea that by not doing the same thing or having the same experience. 

A recent study sheds new light on this concept, uncovering a captivating expansion of FOMO’s effects. The research reveals that the emotional phenomenon goes beyond influencing our social interactions, extending its impact on how we perceive and engage with dining experiences at home and in restaurants.

Social Media Fuels Our FoodMo

The study, conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Envy Apples, found that 77 percent of American social media users have felt food-related FOMO (FoodMo). This is thanks to the constant stream of food-related content you’re being fed (pun intended) from your social media feed. 

Instead of writing down a recipe for a neighbor, food ideas and inspiration are shared instantly with the hit of a “submit post” button. According to the survey, social media users feel the need to share their meals online on average six times a month. 

While they may post their meals only a few times a month, they see food content come across their feeds seven times a day and follow an average of 10 food-related social media accounts. A 2023 survey found 81% of cooks make recipes they discover on social media. These are primarily on YouTube and Facebook, but TikTok is a quickly growing source of inspiration. 

The Rise of Foodfluencers

In 2019, we saw the rise of the food influencer alongside the rise of avocado toast, with 1.8 million photos of aesthetically pleasing toast-filled Instagram feeds. #Food on TikTok has over 581.2 billion views. 

I was living in Buffalo at the time – a foodie paradise of a very specific kind – and watched avocado toast overtake the brunch menus in major cities before finally making it to the rust belt. I felt the FoodMo. I needed to know what I missed. 

But making avocado toast at home didn’t feel like the point. Who cared if I was able to make toast at home? Plus, I was terrified of messing up something as simple as cutting open an avocado, sure I was going to mess up even something as simple as using a knife. It wasn’t like my parents didn’t teach me to cook; I just lacked confidence in my ability. 

Today, getting inspiration or confidence is as easy as opening an app and telling people to show you how easy it is to make even the most complicated-looking dishes. Maybe it’s just me and my growth, but I also see less “eat here” and more “make this” posts in this (post?) Coivd-19 era. 

On Conquering Cooking Fears 

According to the survey, more than half of respondents (57%) attempt to make the recipes they find online. Those who are inspired to cook use these recipes usually do at least four times a month. Half the survey takers said they’d had a social media-inspired meal in the last two weeks. 

But sometimes, not having the inspiration to cook isn’t the problem. As it turns out, I’m not the only one who gets nervous about trying new recipes. According to a survey commissioned by Fresh Express and conducted by OnePoll, six in 10 Americans are intimidated by long, complicated recipes, especially when it comes to international dishes like homemade pasta or enchiladas. 

Dietitian and Food Network presenter of How Healthy Happens, Ashley Hawk, said in a statement released with the study that her simple advice to followers and clients was to start with whole foods.

“Many people often think you have to compromise taste and flavor to eat ‘healthy,’ but this mentality of thinking you have to sacrifice is often what leads us to crave the foods we deem ‘unhealthy’ and drives our FOMO when you see an indulgent snack on social media that you would rather be having,” she said.

To conquer my fears – a mix of intimidation and eating disorder anxiety – I started using HelloFresh. Now when I see things like peach Caprese salad come across my Instagram feed, I get excited and let myself be inspired.