Americans and Food: A Love Story on the Rocks!

The United States is in a steep decline when it comes to enjoying food! Yes, you read that correctly. Americans are no longer enjoying their meals, and this isn’t just any decline—it’s a “steep” one, as if food has become a slippery slope they’re sliding down, straight into a health abyss.

The data says fewer people are eating what they consider healthy food, and worse, they’re not even enjoying it. Imagine this: you eat healthy food, don’t enjoy it, and then discover your health is still at risk. What a losing deal!

“In some cases, we still see a strong majority of people saying they enjoy their food,” says Andrew Dugan, a researcher at Gallup. But he adds, “The decline has been pretty stark.” It’s as if he’s saying, “Yes, some people still enjoy their food, but they’re a minority, and soon we’ll be sending them condolence cards.”

The Gallup study surveyed people from over 140 countries. They were asked about their thoughts on their food: Is it healthy? Do they enjoy it? Do they have options? It’s like a beauty pageant for food!

Globally, 81% of people said they enjoyed their food in 2023, down from 87% the previous year. The percentage of those who said they ate mostly healthy food dropped from 82% to 75%. And in the U.S., the situation is even more concerning: the percentage of people who felt they ate healthy food fell from 83% to 71%. It’s as if Americans decided health wasn’t a priority this year!

Researchers don’t yet know why this decline in healthy eating and food satisfaction is happening. But Dugan says enjoying your food is key to a happy life. Yes, food isn’t just for nutrition—it’s for happiness too. Because anyone living on plain boiled broccoli without any enjoyment will end up sad, even if their weight is perfect.

Why is food satisfaction important?

“Having a good meal is a gift that keeps on giving,” says Dugan. Yes, it’s a gift that brings you happiness and then later reminds you that you need to hit the gym.

He adds that food satisfaction is linked to other indicators of a positive life, like feeling socially connected and part of a community. In short, if you’re happy with your food, you’re happy with your life. And if you’re living on fast food, you’re probably feeling lonely and binge-watching your favorite shows by yourself.

The data shows that young people in Western countries are less satisfied with their food and food choices. They also rate their lives less positively compared to older adults. Maybe it’s because they live in a world full of fancy food photos on Instagram while they’re eating potato chips on the couch.

How to enjoy your food more?

Nutritionist Natalie Mokari says what you eat and how you eat it affects how satisfied you feel with your meal. Yes, it’s not just about the food itself, but also how you eat it. Are you eating quickly? Are you watching TV? Are you chatting with a friend? All these details matter.

Mokari adds that food affordability and accessibility are major barriers. In other words, if you’re poor, you’re probably not going to enjoy a delicious meal. But she suggests simple solutions, like using canned beans to make a meal more filling. Yes, canned beans—the food of the poor and the brave!

She also advises setting aside time to plan and prepare food you love. Because a busy life makes nutritious food seem like a distant dream. But she says, “Make sure you have options for a satisfying meal so you don’t get stuck searching for something and then feel disappointed when it’s not appetizing.” Yes, nothing’s worse than opening the fridge and finding only a box of old lettuce.

Finally, Mokari recommends putting your phone away while eating. Because “satisfaction goes down when we’re distracted.” Yes, scrolling through food photos on Instagram while eating won’t make your food taste better—it’ll just make you jealous of other people’s meals.

There you have it, in a satirical style, we shed light on the issue of food satisfaction, with a gentle reminder that life is short, and food should be a source of joy, not just survival!