So why is it when we start talking about fixing the American diet that people get in such a tizzy? Is it the fact that we, as Americans, think that someone is trying to take something away from us? Our lives are so intertwined in our pile of processed crap that even we call it “junk food”, but get offended when people say that we are killing ourselves with the food we eat.

“You are what you eat,” says the popular phrase, but it doesn’t seem to have had much effect on American eating habits. Gaining weight, keeping it and heading toward obesity are the clear consequences of the foods we eat: the quantity (calorie intake), quality (whole foods versus processed foods) and the composition (proteins, fats, carbohydrates and fiber).

Half of all Americans are overweight and 12 percent of school-aged children are obese, twice the number reported 20 years ago. Americans should be concerned about their eating habits because of the significant long-term health and disease risks associated with being overweight and obese, including high blood pressure, heart disease, certain cancers and diabetes. More than 300,000 deaths a year (14 percent of all deaths) are directly related to weight problems, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and weight-related issues may account for 6.5 percent of Americans’ health care costs.

We believe that all fats are to blame, and we are told that carbohydrates make us gain weight, especially those found in sugars and grain products such as bread and pasta. However, the human body requires certain fats and carbohydrates to function well, stay healthy, have energy and feel good. Cutting out certain naturally occurring foods is not the way to a healthy lifestyle.

For the first time in the history of this country it is projected that this generation of children will not live longer than their parents. This should scare us to death. What can be done? Michael Pollen has come up with a “it’s too simple to work” list of “rules” that the country needs to follow to keep healthy.

1. Don’t eat anything your grandmother wouldn’t recognize.

2. Don’t eat cereal that changes the color of your milk.

3. Eat more food that comes without packaging.

4. Look for foods with fewer than 5 ingredients in the ingredient list.

5. Avoid things made with ingredients that you don’t recognize as food.

6. Eat more whole intact grains and less flour.

7. Eat most of your fruit whole and unprocessed.

8. Eat at least some of your vegetables raw every day.

We can start by feeding our nation’s children better. Please sign Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution Petition to get healthy food into our schools!

Take care of each other