With these surveys in, it's likely that consumers will be paying more attention to calorie intake -- which brings up the problem of our tendency to focus on one issue at a time, myopically avoiding one or two "bad" foods (e.g. fat or saturated fat) without considering vitamins, minerals and other important nutrients. Highly engineered foods full of fat replacers and bulking agents may contain fewer calories and fewer grams of fat, but in many cases they also contain dangerously low levels of beneficial nutrients. Good nutrition is more than counting calories and cutting fat.

Of course, extra calories isn't the only concern with Americans' weight problems. Only 40 percent of Americans exercise regularly. Between 1985 and 1990 there was a 10 percent decline in sports participation. Manufacturing jobs are declining, and fewer people move around at work. We watch more television than ever before and use our cars more. There's even a decrease in physical education classes in schools. We have too much food and move around too little, and those two factors are hard to change.

But with some knowledge, motivation and a healthy attitude, it is possible to chip away at those bad habits.

1. Become aware of the calorie content of the foods you eat. To find the calories in almost any food, search the USDA nutrient database.
2. Continue to keep fat intake to less than 30 percent of calories.
3. Do whatever it takes to make exercise a priority in your daily routine. It's as important as brushing your teeth.
4. Become familiar with the calorie-burning potential of different activities: