It’s no secret that Americans aren’t really known for our great eating habits. This is most likely why over two-thirds of our population is either obese or overweight.

No matter what the excuse may be, even those who try to eat healthy sometimes fall short of meeting the needed nutritional standards. Why is this?

To sum it up in one word, the Standard American Diet, (also known as SAD), is…well, sad.

Why such a horrible grade for the American Diet? Well, for one, we basically don’t eat an adequate amount of fruits and vegetables.

Even with the new “My Plate” proposal, Americans still seem to be putting the fruits and vegetables to the side and reaching for unhealthy choices as an alternative. Why? Simply because changing your eating habits is very, very difficult.

Changing your eating habits is one of the main reasons people quit their diet before they ever really get started. This is mostly due to our reliance and addiction to processed food. Plus, a lot of our food supply has lost its nutrition over the years, further fueling our addiction.

A lack in nutritional quality can also be blamed for the persistent growth of the fast food industry. In fact, over 25% of the population consumes fast food for at least one meal each day.

With all of this fast food consumption, most of us are just eating empty calories without any nutritional value.

Vitamins and supplements could be the answer for some, but they should be taken with a appropriate diet and with the approval of your physician.

It is not easy to get all of the nutrition you need from just diet alone. Vitamins and supplements could be a good choice, but they should be taken with the proper diet and in the right combinations. It’s important that you seek the advice of a medical professional before taking any type of vitamin or supplement. They can make the best suggestions to suit your nutritional needs.

Without the guidance of a medical professional, you could be getting too much, or not enough of one thing.

For example, too much vitamin A can lead to liver toxicity, and too much vitamin D can make your calcium levels surge too high.

Even if the Standard American Diet is missing, you can make sure you get the proper nutrition you need.

For starters, everyone could use a good multivitamin.

Most multivitamins are safe and don’t have too much or too little of one vitamin or the other. In order to assess your individual vitamin and supplement needs, you will still need to consult with a professional.

If you are on a balanced nutritional meal plan like BistroMD, you still may have those occasional nights off where you need to cook for yourself or for others.

You can still keep meal prep simple in the kitchen, and still eat healthy. Meals that contain things like pork tenderloin can be exceptionally healthy. Pair this with some sort of high-fiber vegetable, like broccoli, and a side of brown rice, and you’ve got an easy, healthy meal that the whole family can enjoy.

Another healthy eating tip: always make sure that half of your plate is fruits and vegetables!

Carrie Wissemeier, Registered Dietitian