We know what to eat to stay healthy. So why is it so hard to make the right choices?

A healthy diet protects us against a number of chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

From early childhood we receive an abundance of information about how we should eat to be healthy and reduce our risk of disease. And most people have a broad understanding of what healthy eating looks like.

But this knowledge does not always give good results in a healthier diet.

In our new research, we set out to learn more about why people eat the way they do and what stops them from eating better. Lack of time was a major problem. barrier to cook and eat healthier foods.

How do you decide what to eat?

We spoke with 17 adults in a regional centre in Victoria. We chose a regional location because there was less research was done with people living outside metropolitan areas and because rates of obesity and other diet-related health problems are upper in such areas in Australia.

Participants came from all walks of life, with some reporting being over their “ideal weight” and others having previously dieted to lose weight. But all participants were either:

• young women aged 18 to 24 without children
• women aged 35-45 with children of primary school age
• men aged 35 to 50 living with a partner and with preschool or primary school-aged children.

We have selected these groups to target ages and stages of life in which changes in eating behaviors may occur. Previous research has shown that younger womenhave a tendency to Men are particularly concerned with their appearance rather than healthy eating, while women with children often focus their attention on the needs of their family. tend to be less interested in what they eat.

We asked participants how they decided what foods to eat, when and how much, and what prevented them from making healthier choices.

It’s not just a matter of taste and health

We found that while these decisions were partly driven by taste preferences and health considerations, they were heavily influenced by a host of other factors, many of which were beyond the individual’s control. These included the food preferences of other household members, family activities, workplace and time constraints, convenience, and price.

Healthy eating means eating a balanced, nutrient-dense diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats, while limiting processed foods, added sugars, and excess salt. A healthy diet also includes how we eat and how we think about food and eating, such as having a positive relationship with food.

One woman aged 35 to 45, for example, said that time constraints and family preferences made it difficult to prepare healthier foods:

“I love the chance to get a recipe, gather all the ingredients and make it right, but that doesn’t happen very often. You usually just go with what’s on hand and what’s quick. And what everyone will eat.”

One of the men aged 35 to 50 also noted the extent to which family activities and children’s food preferences dictated meal choices:

“Well, we have our set days where, like Wednesday night, we have to eat Mackie cheese and nuggets, because that’s what the boys want after their swimming lesson.”

Studies show Children are often more receptive to new foods than their parents realize. However, introducing new foods takes more time and planning.

An 18- to 24-year-old woman discussed the role of time constraints, her partner’s activities, and price in deciding what and when she eats:

“My partner plays pool on Monday and Wednesday nights so we always have tea much earlier and cook simple things that don’t take too long, so he can have dinner before we go rather than buying pub meals which cost more.”

Despite popular belief, healthy diets are no more expensive than unhealthy diets. study compare current (unhealthy) diets with what Australian Dietary Guidelines One study showed that healthy food was 12-15% cheaper than unhealthy food for a family of two adults and two children.

However, learning and planning to prepare new types of meals it takes effort and time.

Simply educating people about what they should eat won’t necessarily translate into healthier eating. People want to eat healthier, or at least know they should eat healthier, but other things to bother.

The key to improving people’s eating behaviors is to enable them to eat healthier.

Policy changes to facilitate healthy eating could include subsidizing healthier foods such as fresh produce, providing incentives to retailers to offer healthy options, and ensuring access to nutritious meals in schools and workplaces.

So how can you make healthier food choices easier?

Here are five tips to make healthy choices easier in your home:

1. If certain days of the week are particularly busy and you don’t have time to prepare fresh food, plan to cook in large quantities on days when you have more time. Store extra food in the refrigerator or freezer for quick preparation.
2. If you’re often pressed for time during the day and just grab whatever’s on hand, keep healthy snacks on hand. That might mean a bowl of fruit in the middle of your kitchen counter, or whole-grain crackers and unsalted nuts within reach.
3. Discuss food preferences with your family and come up with healthy meals that everyone enjoys. For younger children, try to serve only a small amount of the new food and serve new foods alongside foods he already enjoys and is familiar with.
4. If you often rely on takeout or meal delivery services, try making a list in advance of restaurants and dishes that you like and that are also healthier. You might consider choosing lean meat, chicken or fish that are grilled, baked or poached (rather than fried) and looking for dishes that are high in vegetables or salad.
5. Remember that fruits and vegetables taste better and are often cheaper when they are in season. Frozen or canned vegetables are a good option. healthy and quick alternative.

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