Old Dogs, New Eating Habits. It’s Never Too Late To Change

Blame mom. Really. It's all her fault. She's the reason we eat the way we eat—because that's how we were fed. Every day. Every meal. During my youth in Tulsa, the most popular tool in the house was the frying pan. Chicken. Pork chops. Fish (On Fridays, of course). All fried.

Veggies? Sure. But most were canned, and then boiled until the very last nutrient cried, "Uncle!"

Our plates were piled high, and seconds were encouraged—if not demanded. We typically washed it all down with soda. (Alas, there was no diet soda when I was a small child.)

And yes, there was dessert. Homemade cakes and pies. Or ice cream. Correction: And/or ice cream.

God bless mom, but dang!

It was all considered "healthy" back then, as in: "Yeah, that boy's a healthy eater."

Far from it.

Years later, those very unhealthy eating habits—nurtured in almost every culture—may be killing us. Sure we are generally fitter than our parents were at this age. We're exercising more than they ever thought of doing. And some of us, at least, are trying to break those nasty, old eating habits.

But too many of us are still stuck in mama's ways. Lots of starch. Lots of food. And dessert. After seconds.

But it's not too late to change. It's not too late to undo what mama did. It's not easy, but it's not too late.

And it's imperative. A five-year-old study by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) found that half of Americans 55-64 had high blood pressure and four in 10 were obese. Obesity typically sheds up to four years off your life; obese Boomers can lose up to eight years.

Not to mention all the obesity-related illnesses and conditions. Next year, the oldest Boomers will be eligible for Medicare. Those conditions will further strain an already challenged system.

In other words: tick…tick…tick…

For advice on changing bad eating habits late in life, I spoke with Nutritionist Michelle Stewart of Hollywood, Fla. Her tips:

1. Start small. "You can't change everything all at once," she says. "Change one small thing. If you are eating fried foods regularly, then maybe you limit it to once or twice a week. And try some other methods, like grilling, poaching, or baking. "Try not to leave your culture altogether. That's depravation and you can only do it for a short time."
2. Drink smarter. Many obese people consume most of their calories in sodas and juices, which typically contain a lot of sugar. "Switch out an occasional diet soda and add maybe a flavored no-calorie water instead of juice," says Stewart. "With the soda start by mixing half and half, then three parts diet to one part regular soda."
3. Now add the healthy stuff. "Start incorporating more vegetables and fruits once a week," she adds.
4. Be patient. Stewart says it takes about 90 says "to change something that's been a part of your life. Small changes add up and before you know it, you have a different lifestyle," she says.

But, alas, the same mom. Heck, maybe she'll even change with you.