Saturday, 02 April 2011

• 3 Trends for Healthy (and FUTURE Healthy) Eaters!

  This is a guest post from the
  lovely ladies at Fun and Fit!
  Go visit them!
  

  Kymberly: So there we were at the Natural Products Expo surrounded by more than 2,000 food samples that were either organic (translation – good for me to eat, so I really should) or "natural" (code for made without tons of created chemicals, unpronounceable ingredients, nor preservatives). In other words, Alexandra and I were in healthy person nirvana without tie-dye shirts or macrame necklaces. And boy did I find out that I am smack in the middle of a trend–several trends, in fact. Yes, I am a demographic poster person for what is going on with North Americans this year and next.
  

  So who better to share the top trends you can expect in the healthy-ish eating world this coming year?!

  Free samples from our swag bag day one
  
  

  Alexandra is actually ahead of the trends in this area as she is a vegetarian who shops at co-ops and health food stores, and she cooks ... from scratch. What is that all about???!! So I kicked her out for today since I am YOU – the target market and next wave of the natural products movement. So close to making better food choices, yet not quite ready for the full transition. Move over Cheetos and hello organic hummus chips!
  
  

  

  Which was bigger - these signs or our eyes?

  Stay with me for trend spotting while Alexandra is off baking something gluten-free, with whole wheat, no added anything, picked by hand by someone she actually met and checked in on:

  Trend 1)  From Fringe to Mainstream

  The natural and organic market is no longer preaching to the converted (as in "hippies, alternative sorts, and the überfit"). This niche industry is finally figuring out how to reach mainstream moms, regular people, cooking-challenged, "we want to eat healthfully, but who has the energy and time to read labels, check the source, understand the different certifications, and we are so comfy at Von’s" type of shopper.

  Have you found yourself checking labels more? Caring about where your food comes from? Looking for organic or preservative-free options more than you used to? Yup – you are a trendsetter and these lovely people KNOW IT and are marketing to you. Natural and organic foods comprise 4% of the current food industry sales with that number having doubled recently. With your help and mine, this growth will double again this coming year.

  

  High on Hippies - Hey, we got into the Expo didn't we??!!

  2) Power Shift to Consumers. Thank you Facebook!

  Power has changed from the professionals to you and me, the consumer. Consumers drive the market and message more than ever before. Power to the people. Whoa, notice how that was so 1970’s? If you remember the 70’s, you weren’t there. If you want more transparency from corporations about what they put in food, how they processed or fattened it up, then get ready to rumble. Consumers are waking up and wanting to know what is going into their bodies. Social media, general mistrust of big corps, and growing awareness are fueling this power transition. Rise up and eat better!

  

  Look at all the organic grass we can harvest and eat! So trendy.

  3) Small steps not Overnight Transformation

  For we, the people (remember that I am not counting Alexandra in this category, by the way) to eat more healthfully, we need to take small steps. Apparently the natural food industry kept thinking that extolling the virtues of a vegan, organic, raw food, self-grown, all home-cooked life was enough to convince us all to convert– well, maybe if they added some planetary guilt and hemp to the mix. Now they see that going from 2 to 9 ain’t a’ gonna happen. But we can go from 2 to 3 to 4 and get healthier every step of the way. Sound like certain exercise advice???? Instead of sugary drinks, drink 100% juice... watered down... with water not from a plastic bottle. Eat at fatty food places one day less per week.. month...quarter, and we include quarter pounders in this advice. Switch out fruits and veggies covered in pesticides for organic and local ones. Shop at a local health food store once every four grocery shopping trips. Slowly and surely we can and will eat better.

  Well wake me up to smell the fair trade, organic, locally grown coffee, but I have yammered on long enough and not even told you about trends 4-10 happening in your local grocery store and belly. Come back next time, ya hear? Sneak preview teaser: the missing trends involve moms, kids, gluten-free stuff, and buying to support causes.

  What do you think about these healthy trends? Are the ones that you would be able to follow? Have you already taken on some of these trends?! Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
  

  Photos Courtesy of Photobucket and Kymberly

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