I’m not sure when you have to stop making food prediction for 2009, but today’s list comes from Reuters news service…

A good list highlighted by a entry called, Recession Diets… It makes the case that foods that are bad for you are cheaper to eat… Translation, “we’re all going to start eating crap.”

Put aside the fact that organic potatoes are 99 cents a pound, while a one pound bag of potatoes chips is $2.49… We don’t have to go the lazy person’s route… Plenty of good options out there…

My favorite recession fact to share is that the Safeway just down the street from my office offers every Friday what I call the recession special… They’ll post a notice on the door in either pink lipstick or on a sheet of white paper announcing what you can get on Friday for $5… see photo above

Just off the phone with NPD in New York, the folks that track what we eat and why we eat it…

Their latest findings show the economy and rising food costs are changing the way we eat and losing weight just isn’t the concern it once was…

So what did they come up with…

* Americans are eating more at home…but that doesn’t mean they’re using restaurants less.
* Breakfast bars and yogurt hit a new high at breakfast, but stopping at restaurants for breakfast also hit a new high this year.
* Americans are losing interest in losing weight as dieting hits a new low this year.
* Snacking is not as impulsive as you might think. Most snacks are planned more than six hours earlier. There is a shift in when the most snacking occurs — more in the morning and less in the evening.
* Probiotics is the “new” health topic, as concerns about trans fat fades.
* Winter is becoming a new grilling season.

Let us know in the comments section if you agree…

Thanks to NPD, Harry Balzer and Kim McLynn for the information.

The most famous cheese shop in America is jumping on the recession bandwagon… Murrary’s in New York City is offering a new cheese class titled, The Recession Diet… The class is described this way…

“New year. New president. Same hardships for the economy. During times of crisis, many food-lovers are forced to resort to box wine and cheap brie, but this does not have to happen to you! Associate Wine Specialist at Christie’s, Amanda Crawford, and former wholesale Manager, Nora Singley, will show you how to keep your purse strings tight and your taste buds happy. Chances are you’ll find some new favorites that will remain staples even after the economy (knock on wood) lifts itself up.”

If you’ve never been to Murrary’s, it’s worth the trip..

If your into cheese, but not up for the trip to New York, there’s a new magazine out called, “Culture”… Their website doesn’t offer the magazine’s contents, but you can download their centerfold cheese and get a sneak peak what’s now out in print…

And since I’m always looking for suggestions, I wanted to offer up my own for best cheese… My vote goes the to the Cow Girl Creamery’s Mt. Tam cheese…

As always leave your vote in the comments suggestion and a link back to their site. And if you’re in the cheese business, we would love to hear from you.

More predictions for the food new year, these courtesy of the Press Democrat in Santa Rosa, California…

Their list includes cooking at home, chinese food and comfort food.

On the Press Democrat out list, silly martinis and fusion anything.

I’ve always been a fan of these sorts of lists and how they compare to other lists… One thing I noticed missing was more fresh food…

If you have any predictions for the new year, leave them in the comments section… I’m planing to put our reader predictions…

If you want to see the complete list, click here….

If you’re looking for further proof the big trend in 2009 is going to be affordable wines, look no further than the local drug store… Just back from Longs Drugs, one of the big chain stores and the place is teeming with wines listed as $10 and under… Only a few months ago it was packed with award-winning wines starting at $20…

Trader Joes, the grocery chain best know for two buck Chuck, (their private label of wines costing $2) now offers more wines than ever under $10…

The New York Times is reporting consultants and wine shops across America are seeing the same trend… We all seem to be looking for a less expensive bottle of wine…

If you’re interested in what the NY Times had to say, click here…

If you know the name of a good wine under $10, leave it in the comments section.

And if you’re looking for great wine advice and an outstanding podcast, check out Wine Library TV by clicking here…

The folks from the San Francisco Chronicle’s Food section  have come up with what they’re calling their, “food-obsessed’s wish list for 2009”… More predictions than wishes, but still interesting…

Topping their list…

More fresh foods
Improved government oversight
The disappearance of the $20 hamburger
More sustainable food practices including sushi
Affordable wine lists

You get the picture… The story and the list makes for interesting reading…

Click here if you’re looking for the complete story…