While astronomically, summer starts around June 21st, culturally Memorial day marks the official start of the summer season while Labor day marks its official end.  The holiday season is in desperate need of similar cultural anchors. Or maybe it’s just me.  The holiday creep is wearing me out–Christmas related products in Costco before Halloween almost did me in this year.

But I’ll have to hope for better next year because I’ve already been sucked in and have started thinking about holiday eating. (Did I mention the holiday season for me is all about the food?) And with thoughts of holiday food come thoughts of holiday overeating. How I shouldn’t and how I will anyway.  So I was cheered to see a recent headline in USA today Americans are Making Healthier Food Choices.

The story reports the findings from a survey by NPD Group on eating habits. For over 25 years the market research firm has been conducting annual surveys of about 5000 Americans and reporting on eating patterns and trends. This year they found:

•  Americans are eating more fruit and yogurt.
• We are drinking more water instead of carbonated soft drinks and fruit juice.
• Fruit is now the second most popular food consumed in the U.S.(was # 5 a decade ago).
• The most popular fruits are: bananas, apples, oranges and grapes.
• The sandwich is the number 1 food eaten at home and away.
• The biggest influence on food choices is current eating habits, followed by cost and convenience.

So as a nation we are taking baby steps toward healthier eating.

Hooray America.

But with the holidays coming, good luck to me.