That’s the word on the street. Healthy eating is a good indicator of improved consumer confidence. 

 

Brandweek, a trade publication and website that covers the world of marketing, published a recent article which forecasts 2010 growth opportunities for retailers and manufacturers.   According to the article, as the economy gains traction, our food choices and diets will tick toward the good. We’ll be more interested in eating better and doing positive things to stay well. (That’s a smart move given rising health care costs and the strong link between food and health.)

 

The crystal ball says food companies will roll out more natural and organic foods. They’ll create baskets full of food with “less”–  less fat, less sodium, less added sugar; and baskets full of food with “more” -- more fiber, more probiotics, more antioxidants, etc.   There will be no shortage of options and according to the article we’ll snap them up.

 

Curiously, it made me wonder, could we flip this equation? If we ate better – would our confidence in how to handle the dips and dives in the economy improve?   Or, do we have to wait for the economy to get better in order to eat better?

 

Research shows adopting healthy lifestyle habits, such as exercising and eating well can improve a person’s self-confidence. Embrace healthy habits and maybe your improved confidence will help you better manage how the economy affects you.  This diet influence might just swing both ways.

 

No matter. The net-out is eating better is a good thing. Either eating well means the economy is improving, or eating well may help you better weather the economic storm.  

 

I’m hoping for a bit of both.