American Nutrition: Why We’re Struggling to Eat Healthy (and How We Can Fix It)

America’s relationship with food is complicated. On one hand, we know more about nutrition than ever before. On the other, diet-related diseases are at an all-time high, and millions of people still struggle to access or afford healthy food. It’s a frustrating paradox: eating well should be simple, but in reality, it’s anything but.

So, what’s really going on? Why are so many people struggling with poor diets despite all the nutritional information out there? And most importantly—what can we do to change the system so that healthy eating isn’t just a privilege for the few, but a reality for

The State of American Nutrition: A Reality Check

Let’s start with the facts:

- Less than 1 in 10 Americans eats enough fruits and vegetables.

- More than half of American kids and teens consume unhealthy diets.

- Over 1 million people die each year from diseases linked to poor nutrition, like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

- Low-income communities suffer the most, with higher rates of diet-related illnesses and fewer options for healthy food.

Beyond the obvious health impact, poor nutrition also comes with a massive economic toll. Medical costs, lost productivity, and disability from diet-related diseases cost the U.S. hundreds of billions of dollars every year.

And yet, despite knowing all this, we continue to struggle. Why?

Why Is Eating Healthy So Hard?

If healthy eating were as simple as “just making better choices,” we wouldn’t be in this mess. The reality is, several major barriers make maintaining a nutritious diet much harder than it should be.

💰 Cost: Healthy food is often expensive. Meanwhile, fast food and processed snacks are cheap, widely available, and aggressively marketed.

🌍 Food Deserts: Millions of Americans live in areas where fresh, healthy food is hard to find, while processed foods are everywhere.

🍕 The Rise of Ultra-Processed Foods: Over the past few decades, ultra-processed foods—those packed with preservatives, additives, and refined ingredients—have become a dietary staple. They’re cheap, hyper-palatable, and designed to keep us coming back for more.

The Role of the Food Industry

You’d think that food companies and regulators would prioritize public health, right? Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for regulating food safety, but the food industry is a multi-billion-dollar powerhouse. Loopholes in regulations allow unhealthy additives and misleading food labels to slip through, and companies spend billions marketing processed foods while healthier options take a backseat.

At the end of the day, the food industry thrives on profit, not public health. And unless we push for stronger regulations, corporations will continue to prioritize sales over nutrition.

How Do We Fix This?

The good news? Change is possible. But it requires collective action. Here’s what we can do to shift America’s food system in a healthier direction:

✅ Better Food Regulations: Stricter policies on additives, misleading food labels, and marketing tactics could help people make more informed choices.

💡 Corporate Accountability: Food companies should be encouraged—or required—to reformulate products with better ingredients and stop deceptive advertising.

🌱 More Support for Farmers Who Grow Nutritious Foods: Instead of subsidizing crops that mostly go into processed foods, the government could invest in making fresh, whole foods more accessible and affordable.

⚠️ Taxes on Junk Food: Higher taxes on ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks could help reduce consumption while funding public health initiatives.

🛒 Affordable Healthy Groceries: Expanding programs that make fresh food more affordable for low-income communities would create more equitable access to nutrition.

🍎 Better School Meals: Schools should serve nutritious meals that set kids up for lifelong healthy eating habits instead of relying on highly processed options.

America’s nutrition crisis isn’t just about personal responsibility—it’s about access, affordability, and policy. If we want to create a healthier nation, we need to address the structural issues that make good nutrition out of reach for so many people.

This is bigger than just individual choices—it’s about fixing a broken system. But by pushing for better regulations, holding food companies accountable, and advocating for policies that prioritize public health, we can make real, lasting change. Healthy eating shouldn’t be a privelage—it should be the norm.