As tasty and filling as the standard American diet may be, it has a long way to go before it is considered to be nutritionally complete and healthful. After all, hamburgers, hotdogs, pizza, and wings aren’t technically healthy American staples. Unfortunately, many people who stick to this type of eating over the long term are placing themselves at risk for a range of different health issues and diseases.
Does this mean that you need to drop all your favorite foods from the standard American diet in favor of a completely different range of recipes and dishes? Not at all. That said, most people could do with some improvements to their eating habits in order to keep their risk of health struggles within a more manageable range.
The following are some of the best ways to improve the standard American diet without having to turn your lifestyle completely on its head:
Reduce processed food intake as much as possible
This means anything that comes out of a package like a can or a box. If there are ingredients in it that can’t be pronounced then it likely shouldn’t be considered to be food…at least not the type you want to eat. This step, alone, can make an overwhelmingly positive difference to your nutrition and health.
Choose organic options
Since the average diet consumed by Americans is already pretty high in chemical toxins, opting for some organic alternatives can help to reduce that toxic load. If you feel that it is too expensive to buy all organic foods, then focus your efforts on the dirtiest options. Every year, the Environmental Working Group puts out a report called the “Dirty Dozen Report”. The foods on that list can be a great place to start for your organic efforts.
Eat more greens
Particularly dark green leafy veggies. These are full of nutritious vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. They help to counteract the negative impact of many of the not-so-healthful choices you’re making in some of the other foods you’re eating in a typical day.
Cut back on sugar
This is actually easier than you may think. Cut out soda and fruit juices and you’ll already have slashed a shocking number of teaspoons of sugar from your daily diet. Your goal should be to keep your added sugar intake under 25 grams (6 teaspoons). This will not only help you to keep your weight under control, but it can also reduce the risk of several forms of cancer.