ENHANCING NUTRITION CONSUMPTION IN THE AMERICAN DIET The State of the American Diet How Can We Cope?

The American diet is reportedly too high in calories, total fat, saturated fat, added sugar, sodium, and refined grains but too low in omega-3 fats, fiber, and whole grains, fruits, vegetables and phy-tonutrients. Taste, health considerations, and economics are primary factors affecting food choices with convenience driving food intake as more meals are eaten away from home. The American food supply can support optimal dietary health and the array of healthy food choices available can ac-commodate almost all dietary preferences, needs, and resource constraints (time, energy, skill). The key to a dietary pattern that nurtures good health is learning to choose nutritious foods that also accommodate personal preferences like convenience and taste appeal. Key words: Ameri-cans, dietary advice, dietary choices, Nutrition Facts, nutrient intake ALMOST DAILY, headlines report thatAmerican diets are on the fast track to poor health and decreased longevity.1–7 Fat and sugar intake is too high. Fruit and veg-etable consumption is inadequate. To pro-mote good health, it is imperative that health-care professionals know what the populace is eating. Recent cross-sectional surveys (ie