Providing consumers with incentives for healthy eating habits

1. A method for encouraging healthy habits by an individual, the method comprising:

detecting, using at least one computer system, a particular consumable item purchased by an individual for potential consumption;

determining, at the at least one computer system, a plurality of separate health index values each associated with a separate one of a plurality of health index components for consumption of the particular consumable item; and

selecting, at the at least one computer system, at least one electronic incentive for the individual based on the plurality of separate health index values matching at least one health index value requirement specified in a database of electronic incentives.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

automatically transferring the at least one electronic incentive via a network from the at least one computer system to an account provider system which stores the electronic incentive in an electronic account for the individual.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein selecting, at the at least one computer system, at least one electronic incentive for the individual based on the plurality of separate health index values matching at least one health index value requirement specified in a database of electronic incentives further comprises:

selecting the at least one electronic incentive for the individual based on the plurality of separate health index values matching the at least one health index value requirement specified in the database of electronic incentives specified for the individual.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein selecting, at the at least one computer system, at least one electronic incentive for the individual based on the plurality of separate health index values matching at least one health index value requirement specified in a database of electronic incentives further comprises:

selecting, at the at least one computer system, the at least one electronic incentive for the individual based on the plurality of separate health index values matching the at least one health index value requirement specified in the database of electronic incentives specified for the individual according to at least one factor from among food intake by the individual based on at least one of an ordered meal and a recipe for a meal previously reported to the at least one computer system and exercise performed by the individual previously detected by the at least one computer system.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein detecting, using at least one computer system, a particular consumable item purchased by an individual for potential consumption, further comprises:

detecting, at the at least one computer system, from a scanner system for a vendor that scans and identifies the particular consumable item, an identifier for the particular consumable item.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein detecting, using at least one computer system, a particular consumable item purchased by an individual for potential consumption, further comprises:

receiving, at the at least one computer system via a network, from a restaurant meal ordering system an identifier of the particular consumable item ordered by the individual.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein detecting, using at least one computer system, a particular consumable item purchased by an individual for potential consumption, further comprises:

receiving, at the at least one computer system via a network, an identifier of the particular consumable item from a food monitoring system for the individual.

8. A system for encouraging healthy habits by an individual, the system comprising:

at least one computer system operative to detect a particular consumable item purchased by an individual for potential consumption;

the at least one computer system operative to determine a plurality of separate health index values each associated with a separate one of a plurality of health index components for consumption of the particular consumable item; and

the at least one computer system operative to select at least one electronic incentive for the individual based on the plurality of separate health index values matching at least one health index value requirement specified in a database of electronic incentives.

9. The system according to claim 8 , further comprising:

the at least one computer system operative to automatically transfer the at least one electronic incentive via a network to an account provider system which stores the electronic incentive in an electronic account for the individual.

10. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one computer system operative to select at least one electronic incentive for the individual based on the plurality of separate health index values matching at least one health index value requirement specified in a database of electronic incentives further comprises:

the at least one computer system operative to select the at least one electronic incentive for the individual based on the plurality of separate health index values matching the at least one health index value requirement specified in the database of electronic incentives specified for the individual.

11. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one computer system operative to select at least one electronic incentive for the individual based on the plurality of separate health index values matching at least one health index value requirement specified in a database of electronic incentives further comprises:

the at least one computer system operative to select the at least one electronic incentive for the individual based on the plurality of separate health index values matching the at least one health index value requirement specified in the database of electronic incentives specified for the individual according to at least one factor from among food intake by the individual based on at least one of an ordered meal and a recipe for a meal previously reported to the at least one computer system and exercise performed by the individual previously detected by the at least one computer system.

12. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one computer system operative to detect a particular consumable item purchased by an individual for potential consumption, further comprises:

the at least one computer system operative to detect, from a scanner system for a vendor that scans and identifies the particular consumable item, an identifier for the particular consumable item.

13. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one computer system operative to detect a particular consumable item purchased by an individual for potential consumption, further comprises:

the at least one computer system operative to receive, from a restaurant meal ordering system via a network, an identifier of the particular consumable item ordered by the individual.

14. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one computer system operative to detect a particular consumable item purchased by an individual for potential consumption, further comprises:

the at least one computer system operative to receive via a network, from a food monitoring system for the individual, an identifier of the particular consumable item.

15. A computer program product for encouraging healthy habits by an individual, residing on a tangible storage device comprising instructions which when executed by a computer system cause the computer system to:

detect a particular consumable item purchased by an individual for potential consumption;

determine a plurality of separate health index values each associated with a separate one of a plurality of health index components for consumption of the particular consumable item; and

select at least one electronic incentive for the individual based on the plurality of separate health index values matching at least one health index value requirement specified in a database of electronic incentives.

16. The computer program product according to claim 15 , the instructions which when executed on a computer system further causing the computer system to:

automatically transfer the at least one electronic incentive via a network to an account provider system which stores the electronic incentive in an electronic account for the individual.

17. The computer program product according to claim 15 , the instructions which when executed on a computer system further causing the computer system to:

select the at least one electronic incentive for the individual based on the plurality of separate health index values matching the at least one health index value requirement specified in the database of electronic incentives specified for the individual.

18. The computer program product according to claim 15 , the instructions which when executed on a computer system further causing the computer system to:

select the at least one electronic incentive for the individual based on the plurality of separate health index values matching the at least one health index value requirement specified in the database of electronic incentives specified for the individual according to at least one factor from among food intake by the individual based on at least one of an ordered meal and a recipe for a meal previously reported to the at least one computer system and exercise performed by the individual previously detected by the at least one computer system.