A new year's resolution that's easy to follow: eat more
A new year's resolution that's easy to follow: eat more
WILMINGTON, DE -- As Americans began the annual ritual of making new year's resolutions, the pledge to shed pounds is no doubt near the top of the list again this year, but a group dedicated to better health says that most still resolve to do the wrong thing and miss a very simple solution: eat more.
"Dieting is not the answer," Dr. Elizabeth Pivonka, president and chief executive officer of the Produce for Better Health Foundation, said in a statement. "Eating more of the things that are good for us and less of those that are not has always been and will always be a better solution."
According to a study commissioned by PBH and conducted by NPD Foodworld Research, one simple resolution that Americans could make to help lose weight and lead healthier lives is to return the side dish to the dinner table. The study shows that a long-term decline in consumption of side dishes -- traditionally healthy foods such as salads, steamed vegetables, potatoes or fruit cups -- has played a significant role in the continuing shortage of fruits and vegetables in the American diet.
"If all you do is pop a frozen meal into the microwave -- even one designed for one of today's popular diets -- you lose out on the healthy variety of fruits and vegetables that are necessary for a balanced diet," said Dr. Pivonka, a registered dietician with a doctorate in nutritional science.
The inclusion of side dishes has slowly declined from 67 percent in 1991 to 56 percent in 2004, and since more than two-thirds of all vegetable servings are eaten at dinner, this has contributed to a long-term decline in vegetable intake. While the research shows that overall consumption of fruits and vegetables has increased for the first time in 15 years, most Americans still need to more than double their intake to reach recommendations outlined in the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
"Adding a healthy side dish to the dinner table, while decreasing portion size of foods that are high in calories and low in nutrients, can have a significant impact on weight loss and control as well as long-term health," said Dr. Pivonka. "A good rule of thumb is to make half of what you serve at every meal fruits and vegetables, which will help most active adults reach the Dietary Guidelines recommendations."
