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ADA Survey Finds People Are Taking More Care to Achieve Balanced Nutrition and Healthy Diet

FOR RELEASE JANUARY 3, 2000

Contact: Tom Ryan, Lori Ferme or Bridget McManamon
800/877-1600, ext. 4894, 4802 or 4769
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ADA SURVEY FINDS PEOPLE ARE TAKING MORE CARE TO ACHIEVE BALANCED NUTRITION AND HEALTHY DIET

CHICAGO — The percentage of Americans who carefully select what they eat to maximize their nutrition and health is higher than at any time in eight years, according to the American Dietetic Association's new national public opinion survey, Nutrition and You: Trends 2000.

And the number who say they're doing all they can to attain balanced nutrition and a healthy diet is on a slow upward trend.

According to the survey, 40 percent are either "very careful" or "somewhat careful" in selecting foods to achieve balanced nutrition and a healthy diet. That is up 6 percent since ADA's 1997 survey and the highest since ADA's first survey in 1991.

"It's great to see the trend heading upward, but there is definitely still room for improvement in Americans' eating habits," says Chicago registered dietitian and ADA spokesperson Diane Quagliani.

The Nutrition and You: Trends 2000 survey found 41 percent of Americans are doing "all they can" to achieve balanced nutrition and a healthy diet — up slightly from 39 percent in 1997 and 35 percent in 1995.

Asked if they are doing more, the same or less than two years ago, 47 percent said more, 43 percent said the same and just 9 percent said less.

Those who said they were doing "the same" or "less" than two years ago were asked why they were not doing more. Their primary reasons were "I don't want to give up the foods I like" and "I am satisfied with the way I currently eat" (respondents could give more than one answer):

"I don't want to give up the foods I like" was given as a "major reason" by 44 percent and a "minor reason" by 31 percent
"I am satisfied with the way I currently eat" was a major reason for 39 percent, a minor reason for 36 percent
"It takes too much time to keep track of my diet" was a major reason for 38 percent and a minor reason for 19 percent
"I don't know or understand nutrition guidelines" was a major reason for 29 percent, a minor reason for 7 percent
"I need more practical tips to help me eat right" was a major reason for 34 percent, a minor reason for 11 percent

"Not wanting to give up favorite foods is a popular reason for not doing more," Quagliani says. "But there's no reason you have to give up hot fudge sundaes or french fries. All foods can be a part of a healthful eating plan — it's all a matter of minding how often and how much you eat of some foods."

"Lack of time to eat well is another popular misconception," Quagliani says. "There are plenty of quick options — washed and cut fruits and vegetables, quick-cooking whole grain pasta. It doesn't take any extra time to choose non-fat milk or lean meats."

And she says, "Consumers can turn to the American Dietetic Association and registered dietitians for all the practical advice they need on eating better. ADA's Web site is a great resource, both for finding a dietitian in your area or for a wealth of consumer information."

The 70,000-member American Dietetic Association is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. The Chicago-based ADA serves the public by promoting optimal nutrition, health and well-being.

Editor's note: For more information about ADA's Nutrition and You: Trends 2000 survey, for a copy of the full results or to interview an ADA spokesperson, contact ADA's Public Relations Team at 800/877-1600, ext. 4802, 4894 or 4769.

Survey results are based on telephone interviews with a nationally representative sample of 792 adults conducted in October 1999 by Wirthlin Worldwide. The survey has a confidence interval of plus-or-minus 3.5 percent in 95 out of 100 cases.