Getting Back on Track

Like the Go-Go’s, vacation is all I ever wanted. Last week, I used vacation because I had to get away.

Leaving New York for the slower Midwestern pace of Ohio and Michigan, where I visited family and friends, was rejuvenating and exhausting all at once. I returned to NYC feeling full of joy and my favorite Midwest meals—and probably carried a few extra pounds on the plane back home.

My vacation got the best of me, and my healthier eating habits and exercise routines completely fell by the wayside. Even before the trip, the anticipation killed my motivation, and I haven’t exercised consistently or made smart diet choices in a long stretch of time.

I’m not alone in my journey. According to a survey conducted by Pure Protein Crunch, sudden disruptions—especially last minute plan changes and work demands—regularly prevent adults in the United States from making “mindful choices.” 

More than half of survey respondents (57 percent) attribute several “derailers” as the culprits that knock them off track in exercising and eating right. Last-minute plan changes (40 percent), work demands (29 percent), unexpected guests (25 percent) and travel delays (20 percent) are among the challenges that cause people to make choices they normally wouldn’t make. While women (61 percent) are more likely than men (52 percent) to veer off course, a majority (54 percent) still blame themselves for falling off-track. 

According to the survey, 77 percent believe keeping a nutritious snack handy would help them stay on track with their active lifestyle. With Americans snacking more than ever before, it might be a good time for supermarkets to consider how they can market their healthier snacks, like protein or nutrition bars or shakes, to help get “derailers” back on track. A quick reminder to grab a nutritious snack for a pre- or post-workout meal or an in-store recipe for a protein-packed smoothie would be handy. Offering exercise classes, like one New Jersey Shoprite, takes it even a step further.

However the approach, showing shoppers that you can help improve their well-being can go a long way in creating loyal, healthy and happy customers.