New Persuasion

Plastic Bags are a Waste

Inhabitat had a great post this morning about declining plastic bag usage in Ireland...

Ireland plastic bag usage drops dramatically after plastic bag taxes are instated!

With all the recent bans on plastic bags around the world, it’s natural to wonder just how effective all the bag banning will be. Instead of simply enacting laws to phase out plastic bags - which seems like a wishy-washy attempt at most, Ireland has implemented a tax-based incentive to cut plastic bag useage — and it seems to be working wonders. Between the government tax on bags, an effective advertising campaign, and public support, plastic bag usage has dropped 94% in a matter of weeks.

I am so glad to see some of the new things being done to decrease the use of plastic bags around the world!  I know what a huge problem they have caused and continue to cause to our environment, and can't wait to see the types of things we will do in the U.S. to make a difference for ourselves.

We Are Not the Only Ones...

I discovered a very surprising article released by BBC News recently regarding the obesity epidemic around the world (below):

Overweight 'top world's hungry'

There are now more overweight people across the world than hungry ones, according to experts.

US professor Barry Popkin said all countries - both rich and poor - had failed to address the obesity boom.

He told the International Association of Agricultural Economists the number of overweight people had topped 1bn, compared with 800m undernourished.

Speaking at an Australian conference, he said changing diets and people doing less physical exercise was the cause.

Professor Popkin, from the University of North Carolina, said that the change had happened quickly as obesity was rapidly spreading, while hunger was slowly declining among the world's 6.5bn population.

The biggest increases are being seen in parts of Asia with certain populations more susceptible than others Professor Tony Barnett, of Birmingham University

He told the conference at the Gold Coast convention centre near Brisbane: "Obesity is the norm globally and under nutrition, while still important in a few countries and in targeted populations in many others, is no longer the dominant disease."

He said the "burden of obesity", with its related illnesses, was also shifting from the rich to the poor, not only in urban but in rural areas around the world.

China typified the changes, with a major shift in diet from cereals to animal products and vegetable oils accompanied by a decline in physical work, more motorised transport and more television viewing, he added.

And he urged governments to begin to develop better strategies to combat the problem.

He said food prices could be used to manipulate people's diets and tilt them towards healthier options.

"For instance, if we charge money for every calorie of soft drink and fruit drink that was consumed, people would consume less of it. "If we subsidise fruit and vegetable production, people would consume more of it and we would have a healthier diet."

And University of Minnesota's Professor Benjamin Senauer, who has compared lifestyles in the US, which has high obesity rates with Japan, which has low rates, agreed.

"The average Japanese household spends almost a quarter of its income on food compared to under 14% in the US."

'Cheap food'

While a direct tax on food in the US to reduce obesity would not be politically acceptable, agricultural subsidies which resulted in cheap food could be reduced, he added.

But he said other factors, such as exercise, also played an important role.

"Japanese cities are based on efficient public transport and walking. The average American commutes to work, drives to the supermarket and does as little walking as possible."

Professor Tony Barnett, head of the diabetes and obesity group at Birmingham University, said: "It is becoming increasingly clear that the number of overweight outnumbers the malnourished.

"What is also clear is that this is not just happening in developed countries, the developing world also has serious problems.

"The biggest increases are being seen in parts of Asia with certain populations more susceptible than others. If we do not get to grips with this, problems associated with obesity, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, are going to increase rapidly."

It is very shocking to know that although we see so much in the news about America when it comes to obesity and overweight citizens, other countries are having big problems too.  This is a serious problem with serious consequences to come...

Filter for Good

While doing some research this morning I came across a website representing a campaign called "Filter for Good."  According to the website,

Brita and Nalgene have partnered to present FilterForGood. Take the pledge to make a small change in your life that could be part of a big change nationwide.

If you're ready, take the pledge. Still not convinced? Learn the facts about why reducing bottled water waste is so important.

And, if you purchase a FilterForGood refillable bottle, you'll also be supporting the Blue Planet Run Foundation, a nonprofit organization working to provide safe drinking water to 200 million people for the rest of their lives by 2027. For every FilterForGood refillable bottle purchased between August 10th and December 31st, 2007, a donation of $4, up to a maximum of $25,000, will be made to the Blue Planet Run Foundation.

This site offers some really great statistics about why bottled water waste is a concern and what we can do as individuals to help the big picture.  This shows that our society is aware of the environmental issues gaining media attention as well as ways in which we can make a difference.  I think that emphasis on the environment is only going to become more and more important over the upcoming decades-- especially because of the continuous coverage of the impact humans have on global warming.  It is good to know that companies are teaming up to give us options as consumers without taking away the convenience element that we love.

How Big is Your FOODprint?

There was a great TreeHugger post last week about conflicting opinions and reducing your global economic footprint when it comes to food and meal habits.  Vegetarians often feel that they are doing the best possible job of reducing their global impact by avoiding all types of meat, but a study using the state of New York showed that this may not be true-- depending, of course, on where you live as well as other outside factors.

In New York, the diet combination with the smallest possible footprint includes portions of both dairy and meat products.  According to the post,

Cornell scientist Christian Peters is the lead author on the study showing that although a low-fat vegetarian diet has a much smaller footprint than a typical New Yorker, a little meat can go a long way in reducing the ecological footprint. By taking advantage of crop rotation and better land management strategies, grazing animals actually decrease the amount of land needed to obtain the same calories.

The recommended 'dose' for a sustainable small foodprint is to eat only about 2 oz cooked meat or eggs a day. A single serving of meat is often estimated to be about 3 oz, or the size of a deck of cards. (insert quick math calculation here) This, leaves you with eating about 2 servings of meat every 3 days.

It is great that someone took the time to research many different aspects of a person's ecological footprint and has calculated other options for people that love the taste and the health benefits of eating a diet which includes meat.  Americans are usually willing to make minor changes as opposed to major lifestyle alterations, and knowing that it's not necessary to completely cut out meat in order to do something good for our planet is a big step.  While we are becoming more aware of our surroundings and of the health of our planet, it is important to note that there is sometimes more than just one option to consider-- many of which are positive. 

Baby steps add up to big strides over time.

No Car Day

Yesterday I found myself sitting in traffic wondering what the road would look like without cars on it.  This morning I found this article which made me think that maybe I am a tiny bit psychic after all.

On September 22nd, the first annual "No Car Day" will debut in over 100 cities in China as traffic is reduced and the number of private vehicles on the road shrinks.  Residents will have to find new ways to get around-- especially in Shanghai where one-third of the city's cars will be off the roads. 

The fact that the cost of driving in China continues to go up but people are still finding ways to afford vehicles tells us a lot about society.  The above article mentioned that the practice of auctioning license plates was initiated to limit the number of vehicles in Shanghai, but that the number of cars on the road keeps increasing.  I could never imagine paying $6,200 for a license plate.  People are becoming so accustomed to driving long distances for small things that it becomes a complete inconvenience to go without a car for even a few days in today's world.  I live in an area that has so much to offer locally but still find myself behind the wheel each day.

China has been in the news so much lately and is at the top of the charts for poor air quality and pollution problems.  The emphasis on our environment and on global warming has created awareness and makes events like the No Car Day possible.  I think this is great but I'm wondering how much of a difference one day will make.  It's definitely better than nothing and I'm a fan of baby steps.

Pollution Scares Me!

I was shocked by an article Science Daily released today regarding a huge number of human deaths around the world.  The article claims that "about 40 percent of deaths worldwide are caused by water, air and soil pollution." 

Other points specifically mentioned include:

• "Nearly half the world's people are crowded into urban areas, often without adequate sanitation, and are exposed to epidemics of such diseases as measles and flu.
• With 1.2 billion people lacking clean water, waterborne infections account for 80 percent of all infectious diseases. Increased water pollution creates breeding grounds for malaria-carrying mosquitoes, killing 1.2 million to 2.7 million people a year, and air pollution kills about 3 million people a year. Unsanitary living conditions account for more than 5 million deaths each year, of which more than half are children.
• Air pollution from smoke and various chemicals kills 3 million people a year. In the United States alone about 3 million tons of toxic chemicals are released into the environment -- contributing to cancer, birth defects, immune system defects and many other serious health problems.
• Soil is contaminated by many chemicals and pathogens, which are passed on to humans through direct contact or via food and water. Increased soil erosion worldwide not only results in more soil being blown but spreading of disease microbes and various toxins."

This is scary information.  I think that news like this is shocking but makes a lot of sense when you look at the raw facts.  The importance of clean water and air is huge.  We are beginning to realize the types of things we do to contribute to different kinds of pollution (buying bottled water, wasting gas by driving short distances, etc...) and are hopefully trying to slowly turn things around with baby steps.

Want to Know about the Fish You're eating? Ask the U.S. Government

When I eat seafood, I don't normally think about the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA).  But the good folks at Resource Shelf recently pointed me to a new service from NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service - FishWatch.

Seafood lovers can find out the latest information on some 30 species of fish - with more on the way.  There is information about the sustainability of different species and the health hazards and health benefits of eating seafood. 

This is a great example of transparency and information sharing that could not have been done before the Internet.  Certainly the timeliness of the information and data they collect would not have been available so quickly.  It's also a wonderful illustration of how scientific information can be presented in a way that feels helpful and not overwhelming.  It's what using the Internet is all about. 

Does This Diet Make my Footprint Look Smaller??

As an overachiever, I'm always looking for ways to make myself better.  I am constantly trying to plan for the future, figure out how to do the best I can in the moment, save money, take care of myself, be a good person, take care of others, and stay happy.  Sometimes this is a tough thing to accomplish without becoming stressed-- which can make me act like a different person.  It's like a vicious circle.

I think a lot of other people feel the same way I do.  We are all so busy and we feel that we have capabilities to fill roles that we couldn't fill in the past and are trying to take full advantage.  Technology has changed our lives and has made a lot of things easier-- but this doesn't mean we want to do less.  We always want more.  We want to accomplish more during our days but we also want more sleep.  We want to save money but we still want to spend it on luxury items we may not necessarily be able to afford.  We want to be successful at work but we still want family time.  We want huge homes but we don't get to spend time in them because we have to work so hard to be able to pay our mortgages.  Basically, we want everything. 

Because the environment has been a topic that has gotten lots of attention lately, and global warming is on a lot of our minds, the concept of carbon offsets has become big news to a lot of people.  When I think of carbon offsets I immediately think of travel by plane and the option of paying for carbon offsets from our flights-- that sort of thing.  Apparently, I need to think outside the box.  The Washington Times published a short piece on a unique diet coined by Laura Stec, a chef from San Francisco, who has created "The Global Warming Diet."

She realizes that food choice has a big effect on climate change and wrote a 250-page  book packed with vegetarian items, scientific claims from the United Nations and the Union of Concerned Scientists, as well as guides for "discussion" parties.  She says, "One of the most positive effects you can have on the environment begins on your dinner plate."

Here are some shocking statistics from the article:

• It takes 10 times more fossil fuel to produce a calorie of meat than a calorie of plant protein.
• Flatulent cows and methane-producing manure piles contribute to 18% of all greenhouse gases-- the equivalent of 33 million cars on the nation's roadways.
• 11 pounds of grain and 2,500 gallons of water go into making a hamburger.
• The average meal travels 1,500 miles to get to your dinner plate.
• Americans consume more than 1 billion pounds-- and 1 trillion calories of food each day.

The fact that our idea of a "diet" may not just revolve around losing weight, but also focus on the good of the environment is a good sign.  Cutting out meat altogether seems like an extreme move to me, but I would be willing to buy locally and make vegetarian meals every now and then.  We will probably see more of this type of thing in the future as more attention is paid to our world and the impact we have on our environment.  Making a few small changes is definitely doable, but I can't see myself hosting a "discussion party" anytime soon.

Information Therapy - User Generated Wellness

Managed Care. Magazine recently ran an article about Information Therapy. What is information therapy?

"... the practice of providing more and better information to patients so they can contribute more to their healing...the term information therapy applies to a wide range of uses and situations. For some providers, information therapy is literally a physician-written prescription telling a patient to read specific information, learn it, and apply it. For others, information therapy is used to help a patient make treatment decisions, such as whether to continue chemotherapy."

There's even The Center for Information Therapy - a non-profit which gives support to both doctors and patients. 

This is personalization at its best.  One doctor said, "The greatest untapped capacity in health care is the patient.  Engagement of the patient is powerful and allows for outcomes that aren't available with any other approach."

It sounds a lot like user-generated content - or in this case - user generated wellness.

Thanks to Resource Shelf for the link.

Flickr photo by Anti-Social Butterfly

Did you Drink you Nutrients Today?

I don't think the American public will ever get sick of hearing about anything health-related.  We spend hours worrying about dying of cancer and getting mercury poisoning, and we often buy things that we hope will make us live longer and look younger.  Sometimes our priorities are completely off-kilter.

I was really interested when I saw that The Wall Street Journal had an article about getting your daily vitamins through drinking liquids like Propel Fitness Water, Vitaminwater or the new Coke Plus soda.  I feel that we as a nation are always interested in stuffing vitamins anywhere we can, and don't even flinch when we hear that consumers are willing to pay about $2.00 for a drink that may not even be as good for you as it wants you to think it is.

The article points out, "For example, each 8-ounce serving of passion-fruit-and-citrus-flavored SoBe Life Water has 10% of four types of B vitamins, considered essential to helping cells make and use energy.  But a bowl of breakfast cereal or a couple of slices of bread typically offer even more than that amount."

Drinks containing nutrients have more than tripled in volume growth in the United States-- compared with a growth rate of only 5% for the entire beverage industry.  It is important to note also that popular drinks like Life Water and Vitaminwater have about 125 calories per bottle, whereas sodas generally have over 150 calories per can or bottle.  Obviously drinking something with some nutritional value (instead of having a regular soda) is likely better for you, but so is taking a multivitamin with a tall glass of water.

The relief people get from doing something that makes them feel better about their choices is likely to be a driving force behind the popularity of vitamin drinks.  People know about healthy choices and could just as easily make small diet adjustments, but enjoy feeling trendy and doing something that is new and "healthy" without having to change their lifestyle.  I can see why parents would prefer to buy nutrient-fortified products for their children in lieu of soda or other sugary drinks, but I can't see why anyone (like CC Brunk-- mentioned in The Wall Street Journal article) would want to spend money to drink three bottles of Vitaminwater per day. 

I think this trend tells us that we are interested in taking care of ourselves and in being healthy.  It's definitely on our minds-- but obesity rates are definitely up.  We have good intentions, but, unfortunately, good health benefits usually don't come without a little bit more effort.  A part of me believes that if products like these had hit the shelves in the 70s or 80s, very few people would have considered spending money on them.  I guess timing is the key.

Straight from the Tap

We are bombarded with advertisements every single day.  We see ads when we walk around outside, when we read the newspaper, and when we watch TV.  It's a challenge now for advertisers to create ad campaigns we really notice that stand out in the crowd of thousands we are exposed to on a daily basis.

One ad campaign I found out about in Brandweek really surprised me: the new "Get your fill" campaign-- gloriously paid for by the taxpayers of New York City-- promotes tap water to residents and tourists.  Apparently, New York is one of only five U.S. cities that has a federal filtering waiver, yet, many children and adults have the preconceived notion that the city's water is not drinkable.  This may be partially due to the overexposure of people walking around with bottled water (which is still proving to be a very profitable business).  No matter what the cause, Mayor Bloomberg has taken notice and is doing all he can to change viewpoints.

The campaign will spend $700,000 and will post ads throughout the subway system, check-cashing stations and bus kiosks in hopes that use of city water will increase along with awareness. 

I know I have blogged a lot about water (especially bottled water or negative effects on the environment) and I most likely will continue to post articles or information in the future because water is so important.  Water is something that we as a nation often waste and take for granted, and I think the ad campaigns are a little obvious, yet, interesting.  I'm not sure that all taxpayers would agree that this is a good use of $700,000-- but the long-term effects could be worth it.  I think the fact Mayor Bloomberg even feels it's important to advertise tap water shows the way our societal viewpoint is shifting.  We are taking notice of the types of things we should focus more on as unit and are trying to come up with ways to get the word out.  We have realized that togetherness can pay off and that our environment is something that should be on the top of our priority list.

Sleep is Serious Business

Consider some statistics about sleep - or lack thereof:

25% of Americans take some type of medication every year to help them sleep   National Sleep Foundation

• 23 % of partnered adults frequently sleep solo because of their loved one’s snoring, kicking or other sleep problem.   National Sleep Foundation

One child in 500 took a pill to fall asleep in 2004. www.medco.com

• Since 2000, the market value of the wholesale mattress industry has increased nearly 40%, climbing to $6.4 billion in 2005.  Associated Press, 3/8/07

Premium-priced mattresses — those costing more than $1,000 —
were 21% of sales in 2005, the latest data available, up from 14% in 2000.  Associated Press, 3/8/07

Some hotels now offer pillow menus.

Nationwide, there are now 1,106 accredited sleep centers, up from 374 a decade ago.  McClatchey Newspapers, 3/4/07

An overnight sleep study costs $800 to $2,400.  McClatchey Newspapers, 3/4/07

This from Business 2.0:  "Sleep is the new sex, it's said, with Ambien filling in for Viagra. (No surprise that drug companies raked in nearly $3 billion last year on 43 million prescriptions for sleeping pills.)  The economic toll of all this tossing and turning is $50 billion in lost productivity and $16 billion in health-care costs, according to the National Institutes of Health."

What's going on here?  It's fairly obvious that we value sleep enormously.  Lack of sleep has become a health issue.  We are willing to pay lots of money for anything- be it bed, pillows, pills, surgery - that will help us sleep.

Is it the wired life keeping us up at night?  Is it our minds still racing from our busy days?  Is it worry, anxiety?  And what about our children - what's keeping them from sleeping? 

I don't know the answers, but with our aging population, expect the category of sleep aids to grow exponentially.

Flickr photo by jdreng

Water Skin?

I found a really great post on Springwise.com about a new type of bottled that could serve as an alternative to traditional plastic bottles used today.

Pitched as a water skin, a new bottle created by French packaging manufacturer Sidel provides a lighter alternative to traditional PET bottles. A regular plastic half-litre water bottle weighs 13 – 16 grams. Sidel's "NoBottle" weighs just 9.9 grams. According to Sidel, "Water is the largest beverage market by volume with 160 billion litres consumed in 2006. It also represents the highest growth sector and is expected to expand by 5.7 percent annually between now and 2010." On that scale, waste reduction of 20-30% adds up.

The innovation was made possible by using a highly flexible type of plastic with shape-memory, which lets the bottle bounce back into shape after being gripped or otherwise compressed. While calling a plastic water bottle eco-friendly smacks of greenwashing, Sidel's NoBottle is definitely is eco-friendlier. The potential waste reduction is significant and offering a lighter bottle — and its story — could boost sales for beverage makers marketing to green-aware consumers. NoBottle will be officially introduced at K 2007, an international trade fair in October.

I know that awareness is increasing across the globe and that we are starting to understand our environmental impact.  While this is a good idea for sure, we need to keep in mind that we should avoid one-time-use bottles when we have other alternatives.  The fact that companies are developing other means to continue making products that we demand on a daily basis shows that we hate to make changes that we feel could be inconvenient.  Hopefully we will find a way to keep everyone happy and healthy.

Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference

Everyone knows that kids are easily persuaded.  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out, and people that may or may not be parents already know this.  It seems like the last people to realize this are companies which market to kids.  Actually, it makes more sense to say that companies know everything there is to know about the young consumer market.  They just use what they know in a different way than many nutritionists and parents would probably agree with. 

I think that in America we are always skeptical.  We always think that there is a catch and that we are going to be taken advantage of.  We question what we read and what we hear and what we see.  We are always wanting to do our own research and ask people we know for advice instead of trusting a salesperson with their own agenda.  Basically, we have huge trust issues.  I think this is semi-depressing-- but in the end, I'm okay with this because the only person that will always be around to look out for me is...me. 

The New York Times did a great piece on companies marketing food ads to children.  The article focuses specifically on Kellogg's because of the organization's announcement that "it would phase out advertising to children under age 12 unless the foods meet specific nutrition guidelines for calories, sugar, fat and sodium."  Apparently, "Kellogg also announced that it would stop using licensed characters or branded toys to promote foods unless the products meet the nutrition guidelines."  These changes are going to take place over the next year and a half and will apply to approximately half of the products Kellogg markets to kids around the globe (this includes some of my personal favorites: Apple Jacks, Froot Loops, and the ever-tasty Pop-Tarts).

What are these standards? 

Well, for Kellogg's they are food products with:

• No more than 200 calories
• No trans fat
• No more than 2 grams of saturated fat
• No more than 230 milligrams of sodium
• No more than 12 grams of sugar

This is a great thing, but lets keep in mind this was all decided AFTER "threats of a lawsuit by two advocacy groups for children."  Funny how suddenly everyone scrambles to do the right thing when the bottom line is put in jeopardy. 

One thing I'm glad to hear about is that Kellogg isn't the only food company trying to changes its ways.  The New York Times article makes mention of Disney only allowing its characters to be used in food advertising if the products "complied with nutritional standards," as well as Kraft Foods halting advertising to products "to children under 12 that don't meet nutrition guidelines." 

I think that this is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the future of food advertising to children.  I feel that America as a nation is starting to understand the reasons behind our unhealthiness and we are beginning to realize the steps we need to take to start healthier habits.  One thing that we are really finding out is that good habits are established early-- and we need to teach our children about the proper ways to take care of themselves while they are very young.  This move by food companies shows that our expectations are changing.  We want the products we buy to work with us-- not against us. 

The typical consumer-company relationship that once existed is now morphing into something that many of us are more comfortable with.  I can't wait to see what is defined as "healthy" 20 years from now, and I feel that we will look back on these small decisions and see them as big turning points for the consumer.

Fun AND Sun

I know a huge trend right now is self-care.  We are starting to realize more and more that certain things are important and can extend our lives.  We are understanding more about certain types of cancers, foods to eat and to avoid, and ways to keep ourselves healthy that we didn't necessarily know about even just 20 years ago.

One topic that I have read so much about and seen so much media coverage on is skin cancer and skincare.  I have seen multiple news and magazine articles about the dangers of tanning beds, the proper amount and SPF of suntan lotion to apply daily, foods that can trigger sun sensitivity, times of day to avoid the sun, heredity issues, etc...  The list is endless. 

I was surprised to see an article in the Financial Times that ties in to this trend.  The article mentions that Speedo's Endurance + synthetic bathing suit fabric lasts 20 longer in chlorine and sunlight than regular nylon and has an SPF of over 50.  Other companies such as Mitty James have products like the "Towellling Top" that "has an UV/SPF rating of 45 [on the palest garment] and goes up to 100 on the darker pieces."

According to the Financial Times article, swimwear with SPF 'started in Australian market but is becoming more popular here'." 

Here are some websites to check out for more SPF swimwear products:

www.carvico.com

www.speedo.com

www.mittyjames.com

www.figleaves.com

www.sunseekersswimwear.com

www.laperla.com

The fact that so many products are making their way into the American market really says a lot about the way we value our health now.  We are starting to realize that negative effects of the sun and the ways that we can take action against aging and preventable health problems.  I think that this is going to continue to be a huge area of growth as more and more research emerges about the dangers of the sun.  It is a good thing that we are looking for ways to enjoy the outdoors while protecting ourselves.  We love to live our lives and we won't let much stop us from doing this the way we want to do it, but a few things that can make this easier for us is greatly appreciated.

Look Who's Going to Dinner...

I was reading the May 2007 Fitness magazine the other day and noticed an article about  restaurant eating.  The main point of the article was to convey how many extra calories the average woman consumes when she dines out versus dining at home, and ways to order healthy meals.  Instead of blogging about healthy meals at calorie-cutting, I thought it would be interesting to blog about the way Americans view going out to dinner and the way our eating habits have changed over the years.

The Facts:

• According to the Fitness article, Almost 75% of us eat at a restaurant at least once a week, and 25% dine out every 2 or 3 days.
• The National Restaurant Association reports that a whopping 47.9% of meals are eaten away from home.
• Daily Southtown online even states that there are 500,000 food service businesses-- 200,000 of which are full service restuarants.
• An article in Prevention magazine last year revealed that on any given night, 3 out of 4 American households sit down to dinner at home-- but 2/3 of them consist of restaurant take-out or supermarket ready-to-eat meals.

What does this mean?  We love cooking-- but on our own schedule.  We are so interested in cooking shows and cookbooks that there is an entire channel dedicated to the art of cooking and enjoying food.

Also-- not surprisingly-- we love to eat.  Not only do we love food, but we want to get the specific meal we are in the mood for right away-- and ready to eat.  If we feel like Chinese food we can get it nearby in minutes, and either bring it home or enjoy it in the restaurant.  We love convenience and we love a lot of choices.  We love to spend our hard-earned money on things that make us happy immediately.  I think that the trend of eating at restaurants (eat-in or takeaway) is going to continue to rise.  We will never get sick of eating and we will never get tired of luxury (like not having to cook for the family after a long day at work or relaxing with a glass of wine in a nice setting).  It will be interesting to see what else catches on...

A Roll of...Riddles?

We are busier now than we've ever been.  We love to do two things at once.  We love to feel like we are accomplishing something even when we should be relaxing.  I know I like to try to get reading done while watching TV, cook dinner during commercial breaks, check email when I can at home, and get as much done in the short 24-hour window of time I have available each day. 

Well, according to Trendhunter Magazine, some people love to challenge their mind while they are taking care of other business. 

No longer waste your time in the little boys room reading the back of shampoo or deoderant bottles. Educate yourself with the ultimate toilet roll.

The product page describes, “Now you can while away the time with some great brain teaser tests that will always be close at hand. From some mathematical gymnastics, to classic Sudoku, the Mind Trainer Loo Roll has some great brain-bending puzzles to keep your brain ticking and stop you [from] reading the same joke book for the fortieth time.”

Features:
A toilet roll with 10 different puzzles/games imprinted onto it:
1. Sudoku
2. Memory trials word version
3. Strip talking
4. Memory Trials with numbers
5. Brain exercises
6. Count the colours
7. More math
8. Ladders
9. Mental arithmetic
10. Stroop.

This is a good example of how we want our minds to be constantly challenged.  We embrace our ability to learn more now than ever-- and are finding more and more ways to fit this into our old wind-down time.  Apparently the metro isn't the only place to sit and play a game of Sudoku anymore...

Sick of Paying Top Dollar for Bottled Water?

I have been reading so much about bottled water and the increasing number of people who buy it on a daily basis.  Even though gallon for gallon it costs more than gas,  I must admit-- it's convenient.  I find myself avoiding it, but somehow I end up buying it at some point or another.  Usually it's because I don't like the taste of tap water and I feel like I'd rather drink water than soda.

I was happy to find out about a new way for us to enjoy something other than plain water from the tap: the PUR Water Filtration System.

According to the Trendhunter Magazine website, With the Pur Water Filtration System you get pure filtered water completed with a hit of fruit flavour straight from your tap. All you need to do is buy special flavour filters and pop them into your system. Press a button and the pure fruit flavour starts to flow in strawberry, peach and raspberry. Oh yeah… and it’s sugar free!

Proctor and Gamble’s “Pur Water Filtration System” (the kind that attaches to your faucet and filters the water on the go) just got an interesting upgrade: Pur Flavor Options. With this, you’ll be able to get strawberry, peach or raspberry flavoring right from your tap. The system works with an add-on flavor cartridge, which is inserted on a specially modified Pur Water Filtration System; press a button with the filtration on, and the flavoring begins. You can get up to 75 glasses worth with every cartridge, and as you might expect, the concoction contains no sugar, fat, carbs, vitamins or pretty much anything other than some taste.

This gives us the convenience and the great taste.  Hopefully this is a good way to stop drinking the soda we know is bad for us with the added flavor we like.

To Be a Kid Again...

I had a discussion with a friend this morning about tatoos and about the thought that goes into getting one-- or sometimes lack thereof.  But what about making a decision about ink for someone else?

An article on TrendHunter.com covers the trend of tatoos in the children's demographic.

The trend of tattoos and body modification is still going strong as artists branch out to include just about every demographic including children. In fact, there are shops opening up that specialize in body art specifically for kids. One such shop is called "Tattoos 4 Toddlers."  They offer a special needle-free process that lasts for up to a decade and is pain free.... they claim to have tattooed babies as young as 6 months old. "Needles and Diaper Pins" is another shop geared towards kids. They specialize in piercings and body modification for children. It’s really not surprising that these shops are opening up. What is suprising is how popular they are among parents who are all too eager to rush out and make (or allow their little kids to make) long-term decisions on a whim.

This tells us a lot about the way we are changing.  Fifty years ago a tatoo parlor aimed at children and parents with young kids would probably not have stayed in business.  We seem to accept new ideas and embrace new ways of thinking now more than ever.

Boomers Defined

Baby boomers have always redefined every life stage they've gone through.  Marketers have constantly tried to keep up with them and figure out the best way to reach them.  However, though they are all in the same generation, boomers cover every spectrum of the rainbow in terms of lifestyle, hobbies, spending habits, family and household situation, financial stability and so on.   Trying to reach them as a consumer has been quite a challenge.

I came across a fascinating post at The Boomer Blog that does a good job of explaining what boomers actually have in common and key points that marketers should pay attention to as this generation reaches retirement and redefines "old age."

So here, paraphrased, are seven qualities Intel has found that all aging individuals want to have in their lives. These make intuitive sense—but may be so much the water we boomer marketers swim in—we forget that they can be named. Individuals aging around the world want:

1. To be physically safe
2. To be able to choose the environment in which to live (i.e. “aging-in-place”)
3. To be connected to others
4. To be useful in some way—to have meaning in their lives
5. To be able to get the help and care they need
6. To have healthcare in the home environment, whenever possible
7. To get the support they need to partake in physical activities

Basically, as they age and head into retirement, boomers want to maintain the same lifestyle that they have now.  They don't want to be restricted as to where they live, what activities they participate in, who they spend their time with, or how they receive healthcare.  They want to maintain autonomy.  Marketers that realize this and create products that enable boomers to continue their current lifestyle will come out ahead.

I DO... Plan to Recycle

In honor of my recent engagement and my official wedding contract signing for our venue today, it is a good time to write about one of the newest matrimonial trends these days: green weddings.

An average of 2.1 million people tie the knot each year, and the wedding industry expects this figure to rise within the next 20 years.  Some of these new couples are trying to find a way to offset their ecological dent by doing a few things differently for their weddings.

According to a February New York Times article,

Millie Martini Bratten, the editor in chief of Brides magazine, said that over the last five years the interest in green weddings has blossomed from a desire to incorporate a few green elements, like a vegan menu, to making sure the entire celebration won’t contribute to the depletion of natural resources. This may include finding halls that recycle, hiring caterers who use locally grown ingredients, decorating with potted plants that can be transplanted and using soy-based candles, rather than those of petroleum-based wax.

“If anything, it makes the wedding even more meaningful,” said Ms. Martini Bratten, whose magazine’s February-March issue features a planning guide for a green wedding.

Some of these changes seem easy enough to make and could be a good idea for the environmentally-conscious.  Don't ask me questions about whether or not my wedding will be eco-friendly-- we have just gotten started on the planning front.

Food for Thought

Stopping by the grocery store and picking out tonight's dinner seems easy enough.  Sometimes we lose sight of exactly how much work went into getting the food we buy so effortlessly at the stores.  According to an E Magazine article about buying locally, ...fruits and vegetables now travel between 1,500 and 2,500 miles from farm to market, "an increase of roughly 20 percent in the last two decades."  And that's just the produce within the U.S.  ...898 million tons of food are shipped around the planet each year, four times the amount that was shipped in 1961.

The trend that we're seeing more of?  Buying locally.  When Wal-Mart started selling organic foods, some felt that the preconceived notion of organic food automatically being more fresh or more safe than regular store-bought food sort of... lost it's luster.  This shouldn't be the case.  When major retailers like Wal-Mart sell organic, it requires the very same industrial model of farming, albeit with more Earth-friendly measures of pest control.  This tells us that organic is a better way to go than to buy from a traditional grocery store. 

The only problem lies in the environmental consequences of long-distance shipping.  ...The need for long distance shipping remains the same, and the overall impact on the Earth is not substantially improved once that lettuce leaves the fields.  According to Cornell ecologist David Pimentel, growing, chilling, washing, packaging and transporting that box of organic salad to a plate on the East Coast takes more than 4,600 calories of fossil fuel energy, or 57 calories of fossil fuel for every calorie of food.

Having the ability to buy any food we want any time of year may be hurting us more than it's helping us.  Gussow points out in the E Magazine article that, "I was at a farmer's market [in winter], it was really cold," says New Mexico-based Madison, a vegetarian cook and author of such cookbooks as Local Eating.  "I heard somebody say, 'I guess strawberries aren't in season anymore.'  And not ironically.  It showed how far we've come...The supermarket is the season of the world."

The best way to help out environmentally is to join the "local eating movement."  It's a good source of business to local farmers and a good way to help the world while enjoying vegetables that are fresh and in-season.  This trend helps us understand that we like to get what we want-- but that we are also willing to make changes.  We want to have any food we want any time we want, but it is possible to move towards a new goal.  Maybe if we understand that it is possible to live differently we will begin to shift our habits and reconsider...for the good of the earth.  It is the only one we've got, after all.

A Loan...For a New Nose

Our world seems to be putting more emphasis on looks every day.  There are multiple reality shows on television like "The Swan," "Extreme Makeover," and "Dr. 90210," which have a