How Are Americans Making Food Choices? Tastes great! Less filling! Think good-tasting food and eating healthfully must be mutually exclusive? Think again. According to a new Gallup survey, Americans today recognize they needn't sacrifice taste to eat right. Rather, they can enjoy their favorite foods in a way that combines the basic tenets of a healthy diet: balance, variety and moderation. In a telephone survey of a national sample of 754 adults 18 years or older, only 28 percent of respondents said that favorite foods need to be eliminated for a healthy diet, while 72 percent of respondents disagreed. Seven out of ten persons also disagreed with the notion that foods that are good for you usually don't taste good. "Americans are learning how to incorporate their favorite foods, including those that contain fat, into a healthy diet," said Sara C. Parks, R.D., president of The American Dietetic Association (ADA), which sponsored the survey in conjunction with the International Food Information Council (IFIC). In short, that's good news for Americans who want foods that taste good and are good for them, and also for nutritionists who recognize that successful long-term dietary change must address individuals' food likes and dislikes. Knowing the Basics In comparing the findings with a similar ADA/IFIC survey conducted in 1990, Americans continue to be very concerned about good nutrition and want sound information on healthy eating. Their interest in diet and health continues at a fairly high level. In 1994, 84 percent of Americans report being very or fairly concerned about diet and health, almost identical to 1990 (83 percent). Women and adults 50 years and older are more likely to be concerned than men and adults under 50. With regard to key nutrients such as dietary fat, progress in educating the public has been substantial. An overwhelming 71 percent said they have made changes regarding the fat in their diet, a marked increase over the 42 percent who reported making such changes in 1990. Sixty percent of respondents agreed with the statement that higher-fat foods can be balanced with lower-fat food choices as part of a healthy diet, a four percent increase from the 1990 survey. Two-thirds also know that fat is an essential dietary nutrient. Some nine out of ten (92 percent) respondents agreed that controlling serving size is important in achieving a healthy diet. "Almost all (94 percent) consumers surveyed in 1994 believe that healthy eating means balance, variety and moderation," said Susan T. Borra, R.D., vice president of IFIC. "Clearly, this message has gotten through to the American public, which is essential because it serves as the foundation of a lifetime of sound eating habits." Nutrition Misconceptions Despite consumers' positive attitudes toward good nutrition, some misconceptions continue to prevail. As in the 1990 survey, two-thirds of Americans surveyed believe there are "good" foods and "bad" foods, even though experts continue to advise that there are only "good" and "bad" diets. Consumers also are confused about the fat content of individual foods and the overall diet. Some seven out of ten respondents believe that foods should contain 30 percent or less of calories from dietary fats, a similar response to the 1990 survey. Americans appear to be incorrectly applying the figure of 30 percent of calories to individual foods, rather than to the total diet. "This finding tells us that consumers need further guidance in balancing individual food choices over time to create sound eating patterns," said Parks. "They need to be shown that foods are not 'good' or 'bad'... [and that] one's overall diet, not individual foods, should contain 30 percent or less of calories from fat. One of our goals is to help consumers understand how all foods can fit into their overall eating style." Getting Physical The large majority (85 percent) of adults surveyed recognize the importance of physical activity to maintaining good health; another 12 percent said it is somewhat important. Walking was the most frequently-mentioned activity (55 percent) that adults say they do each week. Other activities cited were aerobic exercise (16 percent), body-building (11 percent) and jogging (nine percent). Twenty-two percent of those surveyed said they are more physically active now than they were five years ago, while 42 percent reported that their activity level is the same. Slightly more than one-third (36 percent) reported that they are less physically active now than they were five years ago. "We need to do a better job of getting the 'couch potatoes' up and moving," said Borra. "Balancing energy intake with energy output is essential to maintaining weight and an overall healthy lifestyle." Health Information Where do consumers turn for information about diet and health? As in the 1990 findings, the media are cited as the primary sources of food and nutrition information for the general public. The most popular sources include magazine articles (73 percent), newspaper reports (65 percent) and television broadcasts (64 percent). A small percentage of people further seek nutrition advice from health professionals. "Our survey shows that consumers who receive nutrition information from health professionals have a high level of confidence in the information they provide. Also, this group reports that the most useful advice comes from registered dietitians (70 percent)," said Parks. Three out of four adults say there are too many conflicting reports about food and health. But the good news is that 40 percent of them seek additional information when confronted with such conflicting news. In contrast, 27 percent say they remain confused about which reports are right and 15 percent say they ignore all reports. Of those who have heard specific reports about nutrition and health, 68 percent said they are very or somewhat likely to change their food choices based on nutrition news. "Scientists, health professionals and reporters must do a better job of distilling new diet and health findings for consumers and translating them into practical dietary recommendations," said Borra. "One excellent resource is the ADA's Consumer Nutrition Hotline." The public can obtain advice on healthy eating by calling the toll-free Consumer Nutrition Hot Line (1-800- 366-1655) of ADA's National Center for Nutrition and Dietetics. Registered dietitians are available between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Central Time, weekdays. Recorded nutrition messages on selected topics are available in both English and Spanish between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Central Time, Monday through Friday. New messages are featured each month. A copy of the complete survey report How Are Americans Making Food Choices?, is available for $13.75 from ADA or the IFIC Foundation, 1100 Connecticut Avenue, NW, #430, Washington, DC 20036. Confused About Nutrition? The following guidelines can help you practice the basic tenets of good nutrition -- balance, variety and moderation. Building a Healthy Diet Balance your food choices over time by making trade-offs. For example, when eating a food high in fat, salt or sugars, select other foods low in these ingredients. Choose a variety of foods to ensure that you consume all the necessary nutrients for good health. Eat moderate portion sizes. By controlling serving sizes, any food can be included in a healthy diet. No Good Foods, No Bad Foods Any food can fit into a healthy way of eating. The key is to balance your choices over time so that your overall diet is sound. For example, when you eat a higher-fat food, cut back on fat in the next meal or snack. You can continue to eat your favorite foods, even if they are high in fat, salt or sugars. But remember to moderate your portion size and frequency. The easiest way to healthy eating is to follow the recommendations of the Food Guide Pyramid. Figuring Out Fat A diet with 30 percent of calories from fat can contain both lower-fat and higher-fat foods. What matters most is not how much fat is in each food but how much fat you eat over the course of a day or several days. Use the Nutrition Facts panel on the new food label to help determine how much fat is in different foods and to balance your food choices. Look for lower-fat counterparts to your favorite higher-fat foodssuch as reduced-fat luncheon meats or low- fat dairy products. 10 Tips to Healthy Eating 1. Eat a variety of nutrient-rich foods. 2. Enjoy plenty of whole grains, fruits and vegetables. 3. Maintain a healthy weight. 4. Eat moderate portions. 5. Eat regular meals. 6. Reduce, don't eliminate certain foods. 7. Balance your food choices over time. 8. Know your diet pitfalls. 9. Make changes gradually. 10. Remember, foods are neither good nor bad. The popular "10 Tips to Healthy Eating" consumer brochure from ADA and the IFIC Foundation, has been updated with new graphics and new information. For a free copy, send a self-addressed, stamped, business-size envelope to: 10 Tips, P.O. Box 1144, Rockville, MD 20850. Reprinted from the International Food Information Council Foundation and the ADA, 1995

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