Hi everyone! New to the forum. And I wanted to say that I highly disagree with people who are saying this isn't an information problem. Now I am NOT disagreeing that there are plenty of people who are full aware of nutritional information, but simply chose not to act upon it. I just think that less people than they think actually understand nutrition.
In my work both in anthropology and in the medical field, I have spoken with a LOT of people about nutrition, and what I have learned is that there is nothing common about common knowledge. My hospital does nutrition counseling, I have volunteered at food banks before that did nutrition counseling, and I have also discussed nutrition while working with community outreached programs. Here are some things which come to mind which a significant number of people, though not a majority, believed:
The ONLY important thing is to not be fat. I have heard so many times people with fast metabolisms saying, "I'm so lucky, because I can eat whatever I want!" They eat diets heavy in carbs, red meat, etc, with little healthy food, and they think that this has no impact on their health so long as they do not become fat.
The concept of a balanced diet. So, for instance, they'll eat red meat at every meal, but they will also eat vegetables, and they will have the belief that vegetables "counter act" the red meat. Another example is that people will KNOW they are supposed to eat fruits and veggies, but not in what amount.
Very few people I've encountered from lower economic areas are aware that whole wheat products are better for you than, say, wonder bread.
They will think the only food that is bad for you (if eaten in excess) is "junk food" that is chips, ice cream, candy, etc. They think as long as it's not junk snack food, it's healthy. I can't tell you how many people I've met who had no concept that Kraft Mac & Cheese is not a health food. One of the reasons for this is that in many lower class areas, there are no supermarkets available, only convenience stores. So for THEM, when their options are between Funions and Chef Boyardee, it will seem that Chef Boyardee is a healthy choice.
Now there are some things which are very important about nutrition but which, in my experience, the MAJORITY of people I have encountered, from any education or social level, do not know.
1. Processed food marked as "healthy" is rarely good for you. If it is a "low fat" "low sodium" "diet" etc product, what people do not realize is that typically, other chemicals or additives are added into that product in order to make ir more palatable, counteracting whatever health advantage the lower fat count.
2. People do not understand that an "identical" product is not the same if you buy it processed as opposed to making it yourself. People will think that if they buy a microwavable dinner of pasta and vegetables, it is healthy food. They do not understand that this same meal, made from scratch, will have less sodium, less fat, no high fructose corn syrup, and the vegetables will be more nutritious due to being fresh and self prepared.
3. People do not understand that the same food cooked different ways produces different nutritional elements. Steamed vegetables for instance are more nutritious than sauteed. And sauteed vegetables sauteed in olive oil are better than those same vegetables sauteed in butter.
4. Grass fed beef is both lower in fat, higher in nutrition, and is less likely to have contaminants than corn fed beef.
5. A human diet should include far more plant matter than anything else for optimum nutrition.
6. Reducing your red meat and processed food intake is one of the #1 recommendations of any cancer association to lower your risk of cancer. And the same can be said for many other diseases as well.
7. Very few people I have encountered understand that high fructose corn syrup is in the vast majority of processed food, and they do not understand the implications of substituting sugar for high fructose corn syrup, which is far more unhealthy for you. When I am traveling outside the U.S., I am always amazed at how different the same products taste (Coca Cola, candy bars, Fanta, etc) because outside the US they are made with sugar instead of HFCS.
One thing to keep in mind, folks, is that many people posting here are posting from educated middle class backgrounds, and are well read and well informed. When you are well informed, sometimes it is difficult to remember that what seems like "common knowledge" to you may not be. Just because YOU were raised knowing nutrition, were taught it by your parents, in school, etc, or have read about it in a million different places does not mean that this is a universal experience. My parents did foster care and I work with at risk youth in my community outreach volunteering, and many of the kids I lived or worked with, even older kids, did not know one single thing about basic nutrition other than eating too much can make you fat.
