(Coralville, IA; Eau Claire, WI) We are told that this generation may be the first generation in modern history to not outlive their parents. The warning has also sounded that if current health trends continue, lack of physical activity combined with poor diet will be the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. We teach our kids about the dangers of smoking, drugs and alcohol. How do we teach them about the dangers of poor diet?

Midwestern authors Sondra Lewis and Dorie Fink say that exposing our children to a variety of wholesome food and modeling healthier choices for them are key for the healthy future of us all. In their newly released book, Simple Choices for Healthier Eating, Lewis and Fink offer a multitude of ways to increase the nutrition of our meals, including creative ways to introduce finicky eaters to healthier tastes. Their solutions and menus include a host of time-saving tips that make it all manageable.

“Eating healthier does not need to be complicated or difficult,” says Lewis, a native of eastern Iowa. “There are many simple choices we can make every day to impact our health and well being.” Lewis and Fink advocate introducing one new choice at a time, making it routine before tackling another. “When we try to do everything at once,” admits Fink, “we get overwhelmed and the changes don’t stick. If we start slowly, it’s easier to make the changes become a part of our daily life.” It’s those lifestyle changes such as lowering sodium, learning to consume healthier fats, and reading food labels to avoid undesirable ingredients that Lewis and Fink say will have the longest impact.

And impact is important – not just on our health, but on our pocketbooks. As a country we currently spend over $620 billion a year on diabetes, stroke and heart disease. We cannot afford to have these numbers keep climbing. Ironically, the money that is a necessity to spend on health care is, in part, a direct result of the money we also spend on eating out. According to the latest figures, people in the United States spend over $110 billion a year on fast food alone. A healthy meal at home not only offers more nutrients, but typically saves $10 to $15 per meal for a family of four. While we may feel compelled to worry about our financial portfolios, we also need to look at our health portfolios. Making simple healthier-eating choices now can have big pay-offs both financially and nutritionally in the immediate present and in the future.

Authors are available for interview.