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.

We all know we need to eat a healthy diet full of a variety of fruits and vegetables. We know that doing this will help us feel better, improve our immune system, help us live longer, and a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is needed for our bodies to function properly. But even though we know how essential fruits and vegetables are to our well-being, only 14% of American adults eat the recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables according to a report released by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported by USA Today.

USA Today quoted Marisa Moore, a registered dietitian in Atlanta and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association as saying, “It’s absolutely possibly for adults to change their eating patterns.” And because adults are the best role models for children, it’s absolutely necessary for adults to make an effort to change. We have made children’s health a topic of several discussions here on Science & Health News but adult health is important too, so we decided to focus on the adults today.

Recent studies have found that your diet can affect both your memory and your vision. In The Telegraph, scientists at the University of Cincinnati have found that grapes can reduce or even reverse memory loss. This was a fairly small study but the “trends suggested improved short-term memory retention and spatial, non-verbal memory.” The study gives further weight to the suggestion that the consumption of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables may help slow or reverse memory decline.

The Sun Sentinel discusses the topic of vision. According to a national survey, Americans pay little attention to vision changes until it’s too advanced to treat. Obviously routine eye exams are necessary to catch problems before it’s too late but they also suggest looking at your diet. A diet rich in lutein – found in green leafy vegetable such as broccoli and Kale – and fatty acids can aid in vision health.

* Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.