More and more people are trying harder to change their diets, but many may not be ready to navigate the often uncharted waters of healthy eating, according to a national survey.

The survey by the American Dietetic Association (ADA) found that a growing number appear to be making improvements in their eating habits. Of the 700 adults interviewed, 38% said they had made "significant adjustments" toward a more healthful diet. That's up from 28% in the same survey 2 years ago, according to the ADA.

In addition, fewer respondents fell into what the nutrition group dubs the "Don't Bother Me" category than in surveys past. These respondents report no interest in changing their eating habits, even if they feel they're informed about good nutrition.

But along with these positive trends, the survey also found certain obstacles to achieving a sound diet--particularly, the concept of portion control. Respondents often overestimated the recommended serving sizes of foods such as meat, poultry, pasta and rice. In contrast, few underestimated serving sizes. In fact, no respondent underestimated how much pasta or rice should be downed at a sitting.

Still, a majority said that when they're confronted with the mega-portions commonly served at restaurants, they eat what they want and take the rest home. Men, however, were more likely than women to say they clean their plates anyway.

Because it is hard to measure a serving size in terms of ounces, the ADA recommends some visual guides to help consumers with portion control. For example, the recommended 2- to 3-ounce serving of lean meat, poultry or fish is about the size of an audiocassette, according to the ADA. That half-cup of rice or pasta amounts to about half a tennis ball, while a serving of raw leafy vegetables can take up the whole tennis ball.

Overall, the survey found most Americans feel good nutrition and exercise are important to them--although fewer said they were trying to boost their activity levels and nutrition know-how.

And, according to the ADA, some "nutrition myths" appear to be holding on. For example, nearly two thirds of respondents said they believe people's weight reveals whether they follow nutritious diets. And a majority believed there are foods that should "never" be eaten.

One problem might be in the nutrition messages consumers are hearing, according to the survey. Close to two thirds of respondents said they feel they only hear about what not to eat, and not what they should eat.

Reference Source 89

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