At 89, Nestle has been a prominent voice in nutrition for decades, speaking out about food\u2019s impact on health, the importance of preventing obesity<\/a>, how the food industry influences what people eat and the politics of food safety.<\/p>\n The No. 1 biggest problem in American diets is that people eat too much, she says.<\/p>\n Nestle is candid, energetic, and still working and writing, including her latest book, \u201cWhat to Eat Now: The Indispensable Guide to Good Food, How to Find It, and Why It Matters<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n What does she attribute her healthy longevity to?<\/p>\n \u201cGood nutrition, of course,\u201d says Nestle, Ph.D., a retired professor of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University.<\/p>\n \u201cThere must be some genetic component and some of it is luck. But mostly I\u2019ve had pretty healthy habits. I never smoked, I don’t drink a lot, I get plenty of sleep. I live in New York \u2014 I don’t have a car, so that makes me physically active by demand.\u201d<\/p>\n Nestle doesn\u2019t take any supplements, noting there\u2019s little evidence they make healthy people healthier. But she\u2019s not opposed to people taking a multivitamin, calling it \u201charmless\u201d and potentially helping them feel better.<\/p>\n The secret of healthy nutrition is to vary foods as much as possible and keep them as minimally processed as possible, she says.<\/p>\n But Nestle also calls herself a \u201ctotal foodie,\u201d noting she has a sweet tooth, likes chips and considers cheese \u201cone of life\u2019s great pleasures.\u201d<\/p>\n Here are six of her simple tips for healthy eating:<\/p>\n Never Eat Anything Artificial<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s one of my personal rules,\u201d Nestle says. \u201cWhy would I want to when real food tastes so much better?\u201d<\/p>\n She avoids foods with additives that boost color, flavor and texture, noting they actually make things taste worse rather than improving them. She also skips artificial sweeteners \u2014 \u201cI much prefer sugar,\u201d Nestle adds.<\/p>\n The expert is happy the government has plans to phase out all artificial dyes from the food supply<\/a>, but emphasizes that won\u2019t automatically make everything a health food.<\/p>\n \u201cI don’t eat things with artificial food dyes. I think it’ll be great to get rid of them,\u201d Nestle says. \u201cHowever, M&Ms without artificial dyes will still be M&Ms.\u201d<\/p>\n Look for Foods That Are Nutrient Dense, Affordable and Accessible<\/p>\n That\u2019s any kind of real food<\/a> that’s not heavily processed, including fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, nuts, meat, dairy, eggs and fish, Nestle says.<\/p>\n On Food Labels, Look for Short Ingredient Lists with Recognizable Foods<\/p>\n The goal is to avoid ultraprocessed foods<\/a>, which have \u201ca great big, long list of color and flavor additives\u201d on the label, Nestle says.<\/p>\n These foods usually combine high added sugar, fat and salt, plus other ingredients most people won’t recognize. They can trigger powerful cravings<\/a> and are linked to a higher risk of chronic disease.<\/p>\n If the label is long and incomprehensible, Nestle leaves the product on the shelf and moves on, she writes in her book.<\/p>\n Foods that aren\u2019t ultraprocessed will have short labels. For example, regular potato chips will have three recognizable ingredients: potatoes, oil and salt.<\/p>\n \u201cIf it says nuts, then it’s got nuts in it. If it says raisins, it’s got raisins,\u201d Nestle says.<\/p>\n \u201cIf it says it has pea protein, that’s an industrially produced ingredient.\u201d<\/p>\n Eat Plants as Often as You Can<\/p>\n Nestle points out that everything to know about a healthy diet has been summarized in seven words by the journalist Michael Pollan: \u201cEat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Marion](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/marion-nestle-eating-habits-mh-120525-29199c.jpg\")
Marion Nestle, 89, attributes her healthy longevity to good nutrition.Courtesy Peter Menzel<\/p>\n