Knowing what to eat and being able to eat that way are, however, not the same thing.
Eating a healthy diet is not simply a matter of individual choice; it also depends on whether you can afford healthier foods, which often cost more. Nearly 1 in 7 U.S. households struggled with having enough food to eat at some point in 2024, according to the latest USDA data.
Even foods that seem healthy can contain unhealthy ingredients. A salad may seem like an obviously healthy choice, yet it can contain a surprising amount of sodium and saturated fat if it has processed meat, cheese, and dressing. Since much of the sodium is already baked into our food, it is not surprising that nearly seven in 10 adults exceed the recommended intake of sodium of 2,300 milligrams per day.