Filed under: Dessert, Trends, Did you know?

Today is National Dessert Day. It doesn't seem like we really need a whole day to celebrate dessert, but any excuse is a good one, right? Even though it is considered to be a traditional part of a dinner, only 14% of families regularly sit down to it, as opposed to 24% only two decades ago. But this number may be a little misleading because studies show that younger people, under the age of 45, eat dessert foods more often, occasionally having them in place of regular meals instead of only in that window of the day traditionally reserved for dessert.

Another reason that people seem to be eating fewer desserts is that "75% of adults said they were trying to cut down or eliminate fat from their diet," so fewer people are going for the huge dessert servings that are offered at some restaurants. This has helped to fuel the trend for smaller desserts, including cupcakes, which may pack in the same calories, but seem much smaller and more manageable than a large piece of cake or creme brulee.