Voting with your Dollars

A couple weeks ago, Rob, from Gazelle Sports, was here to talk about how to find the right athletic shoe. One of the problems brought up by a participant was that once a person finds the right shoe, the manufacturer changes the shoe and we have to start the shoe search from scratch.

Rob countered this potential downside with the idea that consumers want newer, faster, lighter, etc and companies need to innovate to keep up with market demands.

This idea of consumers "voting with their dollars" has been rolling around in my head for the last couple weeks and it has made me think.

If we are serious about being mindful of our eating, are we voting for mindfulness with our dollars? Are we making decisions to buy the Kid's Meal option at Wendy's (for yourself -- not your child), the smaller portion meals at Applebee's, one or two small plates at Fandango's? Are you being an activist for mindfulness and portion size?

Maybe sometimes? Or maybe when you remember?

What would happen if you actively opted to use your eating out dollars to promote restaurants and specific dishes that helped you achieve your weight management? Two things come to mind:

1. If you started being mindful of how you were "voting" -- you would be mindful of the meal you were choosing for yourself.  Voila!  Increased mindfulness for you!!

2.  If you are "voting" with your dollars, you are encouraging the companies you patronize to support your weight management efforts with products and services that make it easier for EVERYONE to be more mindful of their eating behaviors.

So, as I see it, it's a mindfulness win win. 

What do you think?