Get Hank's Healthy Tips, Then Chat Live!

Jan. 24, 2009 -- Author and healthy eating expert Hank Cardello has some advice for eating nutritiously, regardless of your economic standing.

The secret, he said, lies in understanding the way the average consumer thinks and buys.

Check out his tips for healthy living below and then ask Hank your own questions in a live chat this morning. Go to the comments section at the bottom of the page to ask a brief question and he may answer you directly.

For more information on Hank's healthy tips and his book, head to his web site at StuffedNation.com and check out an excerpt of his book here.

So what IS making America fat—is it really just marketing?

Cardello: I think it's two things: marketing practices and secondly it's the consumer looking for value…they will super size things if they can get more for their money, so you have to give consumer value with the right products the right way. Instead of super sizing with Coke, give incentive to super size with Coke Zero. I have no problem with Coke, it's just that when Coke morphs into weapons of mass consumption, when it's so huge. Like a double Big Gulp, consumers can't say no to combo meals…can't say no to super sizing. The 100 Calorie Packs are great—they have a big impact.

How do you sell these ideas to big food companies?

What about other countries? How do we compare?

C: Obesity is worldwide now. I think Australia is going to surpass us now, which is really surprising, it's basically the anglicized countries. Europe isn't as thin as they used to be. The French aren't as bad.

Why not?

What about the paradox in America? Aren't poorer people more obese?C: Actually the rate of obesity is going up fastest for the most affluent, the percentage of people that are more overweight are among the less educated, poorer folks. Mainly it's because of availability of fresh food as I mentioned before, they do their grocery shopping in 7-11, not grocery stories.

Let's talk about that—why is it that lower income neighborhoods don't have a great selection of fresh fruits and veggies?

Kids and obesity…how bad are we now? How can we solve this with them?

Is most of what we eat because of the way it's marketed to us?

I'm just wondering then why stores like Whole Foods are so popular? They are marketing healthy alternatives and opening up all over the country, right?

So is the answer that these companies like Coke and McDonalds make their foods healthier without telling us? Is that what stealth health is all about?

But what about all the artificial sweeteners, all the things that they do to make it taste good—are those things healthy?

What do you say to these big food companies to convince them to do this?

Why is a food tax on say potato chips or Coke not a good idea in your mind?

What is the future of food?

Ask Cardello your questions by entering them in the comments section at the bottom of the page.