Millions of Americans need to change their food habits

An estimated 160 million Americans are either overweight or obese, according to a study published in 2014 by The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. This number accounts for roughly two-thirds of all adults and close to 30 percent of all children in the U.S. To make matters worse, the incidence of obese and overweight Americans has been on a massive upswing in recent years. The nation’s obesity rate is expected to soon approach 40 percent.

Although harrowing, this data does not come as a shock. American obesity is often the butt of jokes in the media and it is a common notion that the U.S. is one of the world’s fattest countries. But why is this?

I argue that the culture around food in the U.S. is largely to blame. American food culture values instant gratification and convenience. Americans have also come not only to accept gargantuan portion sizes, but to expect them. The culture also creates a stigma around healthy foods in the minds of young Americans and produces a mental barrier that stops them from regularly eating healthier foods.

Americans don’t eat unhealthy foods because of their ignorance. Many Americans are aware of what food is healthy and understand the repercussions of eating junk food. They recognize that if they rely on McDonald’s to supply all of their meals, Chicken McNuggets and Sausage, Egg & Cheese McGriddles will eventually clog their arteries. They know that eating one too many pints of Chunky Monkey will leave them, too, as a chunky monkey. Despite this awareness, however, Americans continue to sacrifice their health for the instant gratification they find in a cheeseburger. Why? It’s easy and it’s what Americans have always done.

As a culture, Americans don’t typically value the art of cooking. They glorify the on-demand nature of fast food restaurants and casual dining. This habit of valuing convenience is passed down through generations. When children grow up and watch their parents herald the ease and convenience of a KFC meal, they learn to do the same. The danger in this practice lies in the fact that these meals are usually high in calories, but not nutrients, and are supplied in huge portion sizes.

Beyond the culture of convenience, embedded within our culture is a stigma that surrounds healthy food. Even when Americans know what is good for them, they still choose the worst options. Many Americans want to eat healthy but they don’t want to sacrifice flavor, nor do they want to subject themselves to eating the dreaded “health foods.”

This mindset often starts at a young age when children are led to believe that fruits, vegetables and anything green is gross. This idea is perpetuated as these children grow up and absorb the idea that healthy foods are only for gym buffs or people who “have their life together.” This leaves many Americans turned off by the idea of choosing a salad over mac and cheese, ultimately making them give up healthy eating before they even start. All of this is due to the arbitrary lifestyle associated with “health foods.”

This culture that exalts unhealthy habits is the biggest danger to American well-being. If we want to see a healthier America, we need a culture shift. There is no reason all Americans must fall victim to this toxic idea that healthy foods are only for health enthusiasts. We have to spend more time combatting this issue that has a huge impact on America's health. It’s time that individuals challenge these norms and recognize their own free will to live a healthy life.

Abigail Miller is a UF political science and journalism senior. Her column appears on Mondays.