Think You’re Eating Healthy?
So, do you think you’re eating healthy? Probably not. A new study says that only about 25% of us accurately estimate how healthy we’re eating when it comes to figuring…
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 22: A shopper holds asparagus spears at Paddy’s Market on October 22, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. Treasurer Jim Chalmers will deliver the first Federal Budget for the Albanese Labor Government on October 25, 2022 – warning Australians to brace for spending cuts and limited cost-of-living relief. Focussing on rising inflation (6.1 per cent in the June Quarter) and a darkening world economy. The budget will include lower priced medicines, available from January 1, 2023, $1.4 billion to extend COVID-19 response measures until December 31st, $33.6 million in medical research grants to help reduce the number of those affected by heart disease and stroke. For families and women, paid parental leave allowance will be expanded by six weeks up to 26 weeks, amounting to an extra $6499 and $15.8 million will fund projects to increase women’s participation and representation in the workforce and leadership roles. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)
So, do you think you're eating healthy?
Probably not.
A new study says that only about 25% of us accurately estimate how healthy we're eating when it comes to figuring out our diet after a year of trying to lose weight.
Worse than that, only 10% of us actually understand how our diet had changed during that year. We assumed we were making much greater strides than we actually had.
Nearly 50% of us try to lose weight each year. In doing so, we tend to overestimate how well we're eating things like fruits and vegetables, choosing whole grains, lean protein and substituting nonfat or low-fat for full-fat.
(Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)
116 adults met with a dietitian to discuss their nutrition and tracked everything they ate and drank every day on a Fitbit.
Three times during the year, the participants were asked to complete a 24 hour food recall questionnaire.
Only about 27% of the people actually got it right. Meaning about 75% were off somehow.
Researchers think the diet advice that's out there is very confusing to people and people have a hard time with it, but we do seem to know the basics. We know that fruits and veggies are good for us, nobody disagrees on that.
Researchers say, "take a step back and think about your basics". "Are you eating enough fruits and vegetables? Can you eat more?" Think about measuring, if you can. Really sit down and say, "how many fruits and vegetables did I have on Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and can I increase that?"
Researchers say the big takeaway is that there might be a disconnect among people trying to diet with both how healthy they think they're diet is and how much change they think they've made in their diet over the course of attempting to lose weight.
Are you eating enough fruits and vegetables? Can you eat more? Can you eat them more often? I think we all know the answer to that.
Find out more by clicking here.
