The Price of Leading a Healthy Life

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Art by Sabrina DeAbreau

More than 2 out of 3 adults in America are obese, but is the problem the people or the price of trying to live a healthy life.

Sari Cohen, Eastside Staff

You dress in your most recent purchase, an athletic outfit with stylish sneakers, and head out to the local juice bar. You pick up a juice with kale and spinach and then go for a run around the neighborhood. At least this seems like the daily routine based on celebrities’ endorsements and social media posts. But, is this truly a realistic day in America? Does the majority of our obese country enjoy green smoothies and running in tight clothing?

The cool trend these days seems to lie with being healthy, but our country’s health statistics drastically foil this fad. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases’ National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, more than 2 in 3 adults are considered to be overweight or obese. Therefore, the majority of adults in the United States have a body mass index greater than 25.

America’s celebrities are presenting this veneer that the average citizens are healthy too: eating fruits and vegetables leisurely and exercising on the daily. However, Americans continue to invest large sums of money in companies that contribute to our country’s declining health data like McDonald’s.

The price of healthy living is the problem. The cost of fresh foods and gym memberships add up when you do not make millions of dollars from starring in a movie, but average Americans can still follow this trend and be one body in the movement to help our country grow healthy.

The easiest way to do this is to cook at home instead of eat out at restaurants. Groceries may seem pricey, but in reality the price of eating out tops buying fresh ingredients to cook. Online you can find all kinds of recipes and healthy alternatives to your favorite foods. Try having spaghetti squash instead of spaghetti and a veggie burger on whole wheat bread instead of beef on a white bun.

Also, it’s not too difficult to exercise at home our outside, so you do not by any means need to pay monthly to attend a gym and sweat with your neighbors. Try work out videos with a monthly schedule, a jog around the block, or even just a walk with your dog around the neighborhood. No one is asking you to be a body builder with zero percent body fat, just try to stay active instead of laying on the couch, watching sitcoms and quickly consuming potato chips.

It does not take fame and fortune to live a healthy life despite the way it seems. There are plenty apps free to download that track food intake and activity which help average Americans make a healthy change. The iPhone even has a pre downloaded health app that does just this and more. Check out GoogleFit, MyFitnessPal, Fooducate and FitNet.

You can look as fit as your favorite celebs with just a few simple switches in your diet and daily exercise. After a few weeks you can feel comfortable and confident in the same athletic clothing. Try out these alternatives to expensive healthy living not just to be trendy but to benefit your body and add a few years to your lifespan.