Would you believe it… 90% of Americans claim they make healthy food choices, but our well-known love of sugary drinks and calorie-laden foods suggests otherwise.
So while many people are trying to eat right… a lot of us are making big mistakes, according to a Consumer Reports health telephone poll of more than 1,200 adults, some of whom tracked their health — 52.6 of them % reported their diet was “somewhat” healthy, 31.5% reported their diet to be “very” healthy, and 5.6% claimed to be “extremely” healthy eaters.
Thing is, 43% of respondents said they drink at least one sugary soda or sugar-sweetened hot beverage a day. Only about 25% said they limit the amount of sweets and fats they eat each day. Four out of ten admitted that they get less than five servings of fruit and vegetables every day. The same number also told the consumer group that they usually choose refined carbs over healthy whole grains.
It’s hard to find healthy food here, isn’t it? Eating this way sabotages a healthy eating plan and adds to your waistline.
Certainly drinking extra calories is a bad idea – a better option is a diet soda (or water) and a piece of fruit. It satisfies the craving for something sweet without increasing the calories.
Another no-no the survey found, Americans rarely, if ever, count calories. Only 13% weigh themselves every day. According to the CDC, tracking your calories is essential if you’re trying to watch your weight. It’s no surprise that 33% were shocked to learn that their healthy weight was actually in the overweight (25.0-29.9) or obese (greater than 30.0) BMI range.
It’s clear that there’s a disconnect between what people think of as a healthy diet and what they actually do in real life. So, some advice… Write down everything you eat for a week – then look at the list and ask yourself, “Is this a healthy diet?” Chances are, when you watch what you’re eating versus what you think you’re eating, you’ll see that there’s room for improvement.
And that’s the good news from the survey; Americans exhibit some healthier eating habits. A full 78% said they eat breakfast every day, which has long been linked to better weight control. What’s more, breakfast options are healthier too, with fruit, fruit juice or cold cereal (Cheerios was number one) being the top choice among survey respondents. Doing so prevents hunger from gaining a foothold, so you have a better chance of staying on track, resisting the urge to snack or binge at that next meal.
When it came to eating fruits and vegetables, a third of respondents said they ate the recommended five (or more) servings a day. Experts, including government experts, agree that eating lots of fruits and vegetables, especially brightly colored ones that contain high levels of vitamins and minerals, is essential. As is keeping refined carbs and sugar sweetened drinks aside.
Making healthy food choices like avoiding all processed foods and choosing whole grains instead are also things you really need to do to fuel your body healthy.
Source by Kirsten Whittaker
