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Are You Health Smart?


tree branchEating. We all do it. Question is, do you eat right? Or does the phrase “healthy eating” send you running to the freezer for more Ben & Jerry’s? Take this quiz to test your nutrition know-how.

1. Your typical after-school snack:
a. a half can of low-fat Pringles
b. a Snickers bar and a Sprite
c. an apple
d. You don’t eat snacks.

2. You’ve gone on a diet:
a. a few times. The diet trends keep changing — it’s tough to keep up.
b. never. Your sweet tooth won’t permit you to diet.
c. never. You’d rather eat right and skip dieting.
d. too many times to count!

3. At a sleepover, your friend’s mom sets out a to-die-for ice cream sundae buffet. You
a. pig out on low-fat frozen yogurt, smothered in hot fudge.
b. change into your pajama pants; you’ll need an elastic waistband for this feeding frenzy.
c. enjoy the treat because you rarely indulge like this. < br> d. avoid the kitchen and try not to drool while your buds chow down. You’d never forgive yourself if you blew your diet.

4. You drink water:
a. if it’s bottled and preferably vitamin-enriched.
b. rarely. You prefer soft drinks.
c. throughout the day because you’ve heard it flushes toxins out of the body and helps for a clear complexion.
d. exclusively. Sometimes you even guzzle it instead of eating a meal.

5. Breakfast time! Power Bar, oatmeal or doughnut?
a. Power Bar — gotta rev up your energy level in the morning.
b. Doughnut, definitely! You’re a sucker for cream fillings.
c. Oatmeal — you like to eat foods with fiber to jump- start your day.
d. None of the above. You rarely eat breakfast.

6. You eat fast food:
a. whenever you can find a place that serves veggie burgers.
b. several times a week.
c. once in a while. A girl’s gotta have a juicy burger now and then.
d. Eat fast food? Yeah right! You gain a pound just driving past McDonald’s!

7. What’s the best way to lose weight?
a. Eat low-fat and low-cal foods.
b. Hmm, never thought about it before.
c. Burn more calories than you consume.
d. Eat only one meal a day and avoid sugar.

8. What kind of bread do you use for sandwiches?
a. Skip the bread. (Carbs are evil!)
b. White bread — extra mayo, please.
c. Whole grain bread.
d. Who eats sandwiches? Salad, please, and hold the dressing.

9. You check the fat content listed on food labels:
a. rarely. You only eat low-fat or fat-free foods, so what’s the point?
b. Huh?
c. once in a while. You already have a pretty good idea what’s good for you and what’s not.
d. religiously. If it has more than two grams of fat then it’s not coming near your lips!

10. You skip meals:
a. and replace them with a diet shake or vitamin supplements.
b. whenever you’ve filled up on Doritos.
c. hardly ever.
d. at least once a day.

Results

Mostly A’s: Confused Consumer
You have good intentions when it comes to eating healthy, but some of your info is skewed. Lots of fat-free foods have just as many calories as the regular stuff. Beware of trendy diets and miracle pills — anything that promises a quick fix is a hoax. It’s great that you want to eat healthy — just get your facts straight so you can make smart food choices.

Mostly B’s: Junk Food Junkie
Whoops! You’re pretty careless about what goes down the hatch. Your body can’t function properly on a poor diet. The longer you let yourself eat whatever you want, the harder it’ll be to change. So establish healthy eating habits now, while you’re young. If you drink a can of soda every day, don’t quit cold turkey. Cut down to three a week; when you feel OK with that, drop to one a week. You can do it — one step at a time!

Mostly C’s: Model Muncher
Way to go! You are one health-conscious girl. You know what’s good for you and what’s not — and you’re determined to eat the good stuff. Your body will thank you with peak performance and plenty of energy. Don’t be afraid to enjoy a treat now and then. Even professional athletes eat sweets sometimes. Keep up the good eating habits — you’re on track for a fit, healthy life!

Mostly D’s: Finicky Fanatic
Whoa! It’s great that you want to eat healthy, but it sounds like you jumped overboard. If worrying about your food intake results in lousy self-esteem or loads of stress, what’s the point? Good health is a combo of good eating habits and good living habits. So don’t let your diet control your thoughts. Watch out for pride, too. Sometimes people with strict diets feel superior to those who eat junk food. You can eat healthy without the power trip. Go ahead — indulge in a piece of cheesecake now and then.


This article appeared in Brio magazine in March 2005. Copyright © 2005 Karen Langley. All rights reserved. International copyright secured.

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