We are just a few weeks into January, so it is still customary to wish one another a healthy and happy new year. It’s an ancient tradition, but isn’t it a beautiful one? I love how we pause to look ahead and make new resolutions. With that thought in mind, I wanted to take a closer look at a few of the anticipated lifestyle trends for 2023. I hope that something on this list will inspire you to meet your customers where they are. Helping them to achieve a life where they feel both healthy and happy.

No doubt as you read this, we are already inundated with forecasts on what to expect in the upcoming 12 months. Sometimes there is something unexpected in the trend reports. Sometimes they are amusing. Either way, I find it fascinating and full of hope to think about the future and how we might be a part of the changes to come. 

Some may read this and feel that a health trend is not relevant to their business. What might happen if you still consider how or why this health trend is gaining importance in the world where your customer also lives? What are the reasons for this trend? In what ways will this trend appeal to your target consumer? What aspirations are at the root of this trend? After all, aspirations often drive decisions. Just one word of caution for these and any predicted trends, in this hyper-connected world, trends can change quickly. This is a list of the trends that I feel have real staying power for the produce and better-for-you industry.

Whole human
Until recently, when people said that they would take care of their health, they automatically referred to physical health. Consumers have expanded their definition of wellness and it now encompasses a lot more than just being in shape. Consumers want to reduce stress, feel confident, and find a sense of community and belonging. “Health” now spans mental, physical and spiritual dimensions. At Healthy Family Project we incorporate a multitude of blog posts and podcast episodes around reducing stress and maintaining mental fitness. It is integral that we recognize how foods and moods relate. Consumers will continue to prioritize mental wellness over physical wellness. Today, consumers say they exercise to reduce stress and feel better mentally. We will need to tap into these deeper motivations to better support the mind-body connection.

Anti-aging
We all want to live long lives, but it seems that nobody wants to be old. There is a common desire to kick that can down the road so that we can “get old later.” We simply struggle to see our future selves as old. It is an attitude that is translated into just about every stage of life. If you are in your 40s you might relish the declaration that 40 is the new 30. Today, you’ll see people in their 60s walking around in the same sneakers, using the same smartphone and engaging in similar activities as thirty-somethings. One-hundred years ago people didn’t want to look poor, now they don’t want to look old.  

Circadian health
Maybe it was the global pandemic or maybe we went in a little too hard on the “but first coffee” obsession, nevertheless, there has been a growing emphasis on getting a good night’s sleep. One of Healthy Family Project’s most downloaded podcasts is episode 69 Tips for Better Sleep for Your Family. This trend has led to several related trends, such as non-alcoholic drinks, herbal sleep supplements, sleep diets and sleep tracking. For years there has been a focus on tracking, measuring, and improving our sleep so we will see a shift from basic sleep hygiene and overall sleep health to a desire for true circadian health. Circadian health is different as it adopts a belief that every cell or organ in our body has its own clock or circadian rhythm. This trend looks to harmonize the micro rhythms of the body. One example is hacking the rhythm of the gut and pancreas through restricted meal times and an emphasis on the timing of your breakfast.  

Protein
I learned about protein powder when my older brother was playing high school football and wanted to bulk up on muscle. The huge tub of powder that sat on our kitchen counter was the size of a small ottoman. Its massive size and macho font further endorsed the myth that only dedicated gym rats or professional bodybuilders would need to maximize their protein intake. Fast forward thirty years and now my retired mother scoops collagen powder from a beautifully designed teal container into her herbal tea. This might seem like a minor shift, but it speaks to the strength of this trend and how we now view added protein and its correlation to a long, healthy life. One of our top visited website pages is the blog post Does My Kid Need More Protein? 20 Protein Rich Lunchbox Foods. Consumers will continue to focus on increasing their protein intake by consuming both animal and plant proteins regularly. 

We live in a world where people are more concerned than ever with their health and happiness. Consumers will continue to look for healthier solutions to make their lives better.

As healthful brands, we need to know what drives shoppers and how to use this information to impact our strategic plans. These self-care trends might also better explain our competition’s new initiatives. Regardless of what trends we choose to align with, my hope is we can be aware, and create more value and improved health for our customers.