“(CNN) — For Americans, rushing to get dinner on the table between work, soccer, ballet class and bedtime, time is often the missing ingredient, and it leads many people to rely on take-out, fast food and easy-to-fix convenience foods, diet experts say.

But most Americans still eat at home, according to Harry Balzer, a vice president at the The NPD Group. The marketing information group has been studying our eating habits since 1980.

“We’ve always eaten in the home,” Balzer said. “In fact, the trend has been toward eating more meals in home, always. It’s just [that we've] been getting more and more of those meals at a restaurant to eat at your house.”" (Link)
I remember my freshman year of College, just like it was last year (yes, I know…It was last year).  Since I lived in the dorm, every night was take out or some sort of junk food.  Although some of my regular meals were “home cooked”, nothing tasted like it was made by my mom.  Takeout food isn’t as good, they use more salt than needed, and give you way too much carbs.  It makes you full, and gives you nutrients you don’t need.

Now that I live in my apartment, I cook almost nightly.  I try and balance things out, protein, greens, carbs and of course, dessert.  If you portion out your meals, you can save room for dessert, and not have to worry about counting calories.

The best way to a healthy diet is balance.

-Justin

[tags]Nutrition, eating habits, lifestyle, jfcapasso[/tags]