We experience thousands of marketing messages each day. Sensory stimuli constantly compete for our attention and our dollars. So much so, that we begin to forget what an effect these messages have on our decisions.

Although we may not recognize that the donut stand opening across the street with a giant picture of a melting glazed pastry tempts us every morning, we may begin to notice the extra 3, 5 or 7 pound weight gain that results from a tripling of our donut consumption.

Marketing and advertising work. That’s why companies spend billions of dollars each year painting our world with their choice messages. Forever innovating, sellers are now beginning to use the most persuasive habit-forming tool: interaction. Just as schools use hands-on lesson plans to engage students, Pop-tart is using hands on pastry making to infuse us with the desire to consume their product.

Along with many other leading junk-food companies, Pop-tart has opened a store front (in the middle of Times Square) that includes “build your own variety pack” pop-tart vending machines, a café with catchy laughable goods – like pop-tart sushi (pop-tarts in a fruit rollup) and a station where you can craft your own pop-tart flavor.

Now more than ever, we must be mindful of our consumption. Because if we allow our mind to wander, it is bound to wander onto one of the thousands of unhealthy paths we’re surrounded by. 

Breakfast foods in particular can be challenging, because we’re often in a hurry on our way out the door- or we may even forget to eat before we leave the house. There are so many unhealthy breakfast foods available that are quick, easy and cheap. We need an action plan to avoid these traps!

What healthy on-the-go breakfast foods can you recommend to your fellow Savor community members? 

Photo by Suat Eman from Freedigitalphotos.net