If you’re like the majority of American adults, you may give your eating habits more credit than they actually deserve. A study conducted by HealthiNation revealed Americans have an overly optimistic view of their nutritional well-being. The study shows that 52% of adults feel that they are achieving a balanced nutritional diet when in reality 76% of adults don’t get the minimum daily amount of fruits and vegetables as recommended by the USDA.
So where is this discrepancy happening? Why do adults think they eat better than they actually do? Something that could be contributing to this are the new healthy options from fast food restaurants. The Huffington Post writes about the latest healthy breakfast option – oatmeal. While on the surface, the oatmeal looks like a healthy choice due to the whole grains from the oats, the fruit toppings, and nuts (in some), the evil is in the added ingredients and mix-ins some restaurants provide. These additional ingredients include the sweetened dried fruits, brown sugar, and cream. Making oatmeal at home would be the better option and doesn’t take much time. Just add fresh fruit for some sweetness and you’re out the door.
Another culprit may be the idea that because we aren’t eating ‘bad’ foods that must mean we’re eating well. That isn’t necessarily true and in some cases may be worse since you’re not getting any nutrition at all. Take, for example, the ‘Tea and Toast Syndrome’ that many senior citizens suffer from. In the February issue of Food Nutrition & Science it was found that seniors who live alone often don’t prepare meals, losing vital nutrients and risking their health. Of course, anyone who has lived alone has probably experienced the exact same thing. Cooking for one can be tough and time consuming. Most single adults would rather eat a small meal of soup and crackers (for example) rather than spend the time preparing a nutritious meal for one. One way to combat this syndrome is to remember that there are easy foods out there with higher nutritional value such as bananas, cheese, and low-fat yogurt. And let’s not forget that fresh veggies are easily cut into smaller portions and can be steamed in a short amount of time. You can probably bet that raw vegetables can be steamed and ready to eat as quickly as it takes a can of soup to heat up, and is much better for you.
We’ve covered how many people are most likely eating wrong but what does it mean to eat right? Something nutritionists suggest in this Fox News article is to ‘eat right with color.’ This means that you should maintain a colorful plate by choosing foods with colors of the rainbows. It guarantees that you’ll be consuming a variety of fruits and vegetables that’ll provide your body with the variety of nutrients and phytonutrients it needs to function at its best.
Do you really eat a nutritionally balanced diet? Share you thoughts in the comments section.
Recent Comments