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And yet some neighborhoods are referred to as “food deserts.” In these areas, it is very difficult to buy healthy food. One in five American kids—about 16 million total—go hungry on a regular basis. It’s clear that we have many contradictory attitudes about food and weight. For example, most of us like the idea of being rich, so we might want to eat the way wealthy people do. But we are often too busy to cook (and most of us are not rich!). So we end up eating fast food instead. Then we feel guilty and promise to eat healthier tomorrow.

? DID YOU KNOW? About 95 percent of people who lose weight by dieting will gain the weight back in three years.

Have you heard the expression, “You are what you eat?” Deep down, we sometimes

think that if we eat good food, we are good. If we eat bad food, maybe we are bad. We think that how we eat tells us something about who we are . But is that actually true? Does what is on your plate say anything about what is in your heart? Or is a pizza just a pizza?

Have It Your Way Americans believe very strongly in the idea of choice. We want the power to make our own decisions. We like to have a lot of choices on TV. We like a lot of choices when we shop. And we like a lot of choices when we eat. One reason people like choice is because it makes us feel in control. We say, “I want the blue shirt; I don’t want the red shirt.” Sure, choosing a shirt is a tiny thing. Still, it sends