Failing food-related resolutions

About 90 percent of Americans who have ever made food-related New Year’s resolutions have broken them, according to a recent survey.

The survey, conducted by Applebee’s and Harris Interactive, found that people break diets and resolutions primarily because they’re unrealistic and have too many restrictions.

Among the other reasons cited for breaking resolutions were “too many restrictions” and “not enough flavors,” with the most popular being “I like to eat what I want, when I want.”

The survey interviewed adults Dec. 19-21 on their attitudes toward New Year’s food-related resolutions.

Here are some of the findings:

-83 percent said they would like to eat better without feeling like they’re sacrificing something.

-81 percent said having a variety of lower-calorie meals to choose from when dining out would make it easier for them to keep their food-related resolutions in 2012. (Up 6 percent from 2011)

-80 percent said they would choose a lower-calorie item over a higher-calorie item if taste and portion size were comparable. (Up 4 percent from 2011)

Did you make a food-related resolution? What would help you keep it?