Old American Diet
FACT: The meals we Americans love need an overhaul, according to the latest U.S. dietary guidelines. Fast foods, the "empty" calories in desserts, sweet drinks, and more have helped to fatten the nation – making two-thirds of adults overweight or obese. Yet, the solution is within reach: know the worst offenders, substitute better foods, and use a few portion-control tricks
FACT: It turns out that our top sources of calories start with desserts (cookies, sweet rolls, etc.); yeast breads; chicken dishes; soda/energy/sports drinks; pizza; alcohol; pasta; tortilla dishes; and beef dishes. No fruits or veggies break the top 25 – except potato chips and fries. Many are high in fat and sugar. Chicken is often breaded and fried, nearly doubling the calories.
New American Diet
Eat Less
Most Americans should cut back on certain rich, fattening foods and ingredients. Americans get almost 800 calories a day from just two problematic ingredients: solid fats and added sugars ("SoFAS"). Limit those, as well as fast foods, refined grains, saturated fat, and trans fats. Most people eat too much sodium (salt), which is linked to high blood pressure, a risk factor for heart and kidney disease.
Eat More
U.S. dietary guidelines call for us to replace less healthy foods with more nutritious choices. These include seafood (at least 8 ounces a week), whole grains (at least half of our grain intake), nonfat or low-fat dairy foods, lean protein, and of course, fruits and vegetables. Lean protein and seafood should replace fatty meats. Healthy oils, such as olive and canola, should replace solid fats like margarine.
Here a few tips for the best tasting food in America:The Pizza Problem
Pizza ranks as a top source of calories, refined grains, saturated fat, and solid fats for adults and children – the very nutrients that many Americans need to limit. Dietitians offer pizza as fit ting into a healthy diet with a few changes:
· Stop at one small slice and fill the other half of the plate with vegetables.
· Choose a thin, whole-grain crust.
· Pile on veggies and skip the meat.
· Use no cheese or just a sprinkle.
