Healthy eating habits need to be positively reinforced
What many Americans seem to be missing in their everyday meals
Miho Kaimori
Issue date: 3/11/10 Section: Opinions
One of the first things I noticed when I arrived in the U.S. is the poor food education and eating habits of many Americans. It seems to me that eating well and daily nutrition are of very low importance to most in this country.
When non-American people think about food in the U.S., most picture fast food. Hamburgers, french fries, and a bucket-sized Coke; these are the types of items that people from other countries imagine Americans typically eat.
But, just as Japanese people do not eat sushi every day, Americans do not eat fast food all the time either.
When I visited big cities such as New York and Chicago, I found many different kinds of ethnic restaurants. Obviously, having enough of a variety of food available in America is not the problem. However, this multitude of options does not guarantee that all Americans will have healthy eating habits.
When I volunteered at an elementary school in America, I ate lunch with the kids. The fact that lunch was served buffet style surprised me. The menu for one particular day was peanut butter sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, soup, peaches, mini carrots, and broccoli.
This situation shocked me because that is far from a balanced, nutritious meal. Furthermore, kids could pick up whatever they wanted to eat, so there were not many kids who chose carrots or broccoli. For the students who brought their own lunch, many just had a jam sandwich and some snacks.
It worries me that these are the eating habits America's kids are learning at such a young age, especially if they do not find a way to change these eating habits as they grow older.
I also noticed there are many students whose meals consisted of only fries, pizza, and a carbonated beverage. These poor eating habits will negatively affect their health if sustained in the future.
I am also surprised at the number of vegetarian people in the States. If a person's motives behind becoming a vegetarian are rooted in religious or personal beliefs, then I have no place in telling them otherwise. If, however, a person becomes a vegetarian with the idea that an exclusively herbivorous lifestyle is nutritionally balanced and the best type of eating habit, then they should reconsider being a vegetarian.
When non-American people think about food in the U.S., most picture fast food. Hamburgers, french fries, and a bucket-sized Coke; these are the types of items that people from other countries imagine Americans typically eat.
But, just as Japanese people do not eat sushi every day, Americans do not eat fast food all the time either.
When I visited big cities such as New York and Chicago, I found many different kinds of ethnic restaurants. Obviously, having enough of a variety of food available in America is not the problem. However, this multitude of options does not guarantee that all Americans will have healthy eating habits.
When I volunteered at an elementary school in America, I ate lunch with the kids. The fact that lunch was served buffet style surprised me. The menu for one particular day was peanut butter sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, soup, peaches, mini carrots, and broccoli.
This situation shocked me because that is far from a balanced, nutritious meal. Furthermore, kids could pick up whatever they wanted to eat, so there were not many kids who chose carrots or broccoli. For the students who brought their own lunch, many just had a jam sandwich and some snacks.
It worries me that these are the eating habits America's kids are learning at such a young age, especially if they do not find a way to change these eating habits as they grow older.
I also noticed there are many students whose meals consisted of only fries, pizza, and a carbonated beverage. These poor eating habits will negatively affect their health if sustained in the future.
I am also surprised at the number of vegetarian people in the States. If a person's motives behind becoming a vegetarian are rooted in religious or personal beliefs, then I have no place in telling them otherwise. If, however, a person becomes a vegetarian with the idea that an exclusively herbivorous lifestyle is nutritionally balanced and the best type of eating habit, then they should reconsider being a vegetarian.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Chicago Movers
posted 5/03/10 @ 4:24 PM CST
I agree, we should all start eating more healthy. It is not ok for us to be eating cheesburgers for breakfast lunch and dinner. It is so bad for us that we dont even know how to survive without it anymore. (Continued…)
Marchela
posted 5/19/10 @ 10:38 AM CST
Personally, I reconsidered my diet as soon as my problems with digestion became obvious.. I think that people, regardless of where they live (US or any other country) should be aware of all the consequences the food may affect their health. (Continued…)
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