The Midwestern Diet Dilemma

In many cases, regional differences in diet are due to the ethnic history of an area. In the early days of the country, people migrated to areas where the surroundings were familiar and comforting. Living among people whose dialect was understandable and who behaved like you, worshipped like you and ate like you felt safe. Though people came to America for opportunity, they were reluctant to let many of their customs go. This was especially true with cuisine.

Nowadays, where you live still has a lot to do with what foods are available and how they are served. Those living in a region with a history of serving hearty, high-calorie food are more likely to suffer from nutrition-related health issues. When a certain way of eating is accepted as normal by your family and in your region, you are unlikely to question its consequences.

The Midwest might be the region of the country most negatively affected by regional cuisine. Those visiting or relocating to the region are often stunned by the unhealthy foods served regularly in the area. The Midwestern diet is filled with comfort foods, and traditional German and Polish dishes are staples. Consuming this type of cusine offers isolatation and comfort from the six to seven months of bitter cold residents must endure.

Geographically speaking, the challenges make perfect sense. The long, cold winters and unpredictable springs impact the growing season for fresh fruits and vegetables. The distance from either coast means seafood and ocean-based plants must be shipped in. The foods easily accessible for Midwesterners include dairy and beef. Though not inherently unhealthy when eaten in moderation and supplied by responsible farming practices, a diet built around animal-based foods is not going to do your health any favors.

Diet Challenges

Regional nutrition problems often go deeper than heritage. Bad habits are hard to break and trying to overcome a lifetime of poor eating creates a great deal of turmoil. As soon as you begin to make changes in your diet, there might be backlash from friends and relatives. If you are struggling to commit to improvements, the regional and ethnic influences are easy excuses. Those who do not want to give up or cut back on sausage, cheese, custard and burgers can say it is “in their blood”. If your heritage is to eat too much and dine on unhealthy food, your friends and family might see your desire to change as a slight against your culture. They might also fear having to change themselves.

Successful Diet Changes

So what’s the solution? There probably is not one single effective method for transforming the Midwestern diet. The desire to be healthy is often outweighed by the desire to cling to traditions. The loyalty Midwesterners have for their heritage is admirable, but creates a cycle of poor health. Comfort foods are used to elevate moods during the long, cold winters, but often lead to feelings of lethargy and depression. To combat these feelings, which are often based on the weather, people eat more comfort foods. The cycle is physically and emotionally destructive.

The easiest way to make changes, regardless of the type of resistance you face, is to ease into healthier eating. You can do this in three ways:

You can eliminate food from your diet. This will likely be the most challenging of the three solutions. Choose a few unhealthy foods and replace them with healthier options. For instance, if you traditionally eat ham and rolls (ham sandwiches) on Sunday served with potato chips, offer carrot and celery sticks as side instead. The main dish remains, but the less important side is packed with nutrients and has fewer calories and fat.

You can add healthy foods so you have less room for unhealthy choices. This is tough for people to understand because it is non-traditional in regard to dieting. Instead of reducing the amount of food you eat, you increase it, but make healthier choices. You are likely to reduce your caloric intake, leading to weight loss. At dinner, eat several servings of nutrient-dense vegetables. Your appetite is satisfied and you eliminate late night cravings. The extra veggies also reduce your protein and carbohydrate consumption during the meal.

You can  find healthy replacements for unhealthy foods. If you are concerned about the antibiotics and hormones in cow’s milk, replace it with nut or rice milk. If your weakness is bratwurst during tailgate parties or family cook-outs, try a turkey brat instead. None of these changes is a major diet overhaul and you are unlikely to feel deprived. However, small steps eventually lead to big changes. Your family and friends might not even realize changes are happening. You are able to improve your health, even if your local traditions encourage unhealthy eating.