Many Americans are seeking healthy swaps for their favorite foods and beverages in an attempt to cut back on caloric intake.
As Americans continue to grow increasingly more health-conscious, many are seeking ways to achieve a healthy lifestyle, while also finding opportunities to indulge.
According to a new Harris Poll survey, which was commissioned by Southern Breeze Sweet Tea, 86% of adults like to balance healthy eating with the occasional indulgence. The survey also found that, when it comes to indulging, 87% of Americans would rather eat their calories than drink them.
This sentiment is consistent among Southerners (87%), a culture known for its rich foods like mac and cheese and high calorie beverages like traditional sweet tea. The survey found, however, that over seven in ten adults (72%) look for ways to reduce their sugar intake. And despite a tendency to gravitate toward food splurges, the survey revealed that finding good-tasting healthy swaps for favorite foods and beverages is important to over three quarters (76%) of Americans.
“It’s actually a healthy habit to indulge a little every once in a while,” said Carolyn O’Neil, M.S., R.D. and author of The Slim Down South Cookbook: Eating Well and Living Healthy in the Land of Biscuits and Bacon. “But to maintain a healthy weight and best overall health for a lifetime, it’s important to make smart swaps that help control calorie intake. That’s why a delicious zero-calorie beverage like Southern Breeze Sweet Tea is a win-win for taste and health.”
Even sweet tea drinkers agree that a healthier option for their favorite drink would be ideal: 62% would be willing to substitute a no-calorie sweet tea beverage for regular sweet tea in order to indulge in other foods/beverages.
Other insights revealed by the survey include:
- Adults aged 35+ are more likely to prefer to eat their calories than drink them than Millennials (89% versus 81%, respectively).
- Women appear to be more conscious about finding healthy swaps for their favorite foods and beverages, as nearly four in five (79%) say it is important to them, compared to 72% of men.
- Adults aged 55+ are more likely to look for ways to reduce their sugar intake than those aged 18-54 (80% versus 67%).
“Life is all about balance, and choosing healthier beverage options like Southern Breeze Sweet Tea is a great way to ensure you can enjoy eating your calories instead of drinking them,” O’Neil noted.