Known as the Standard American Diet (though Wikipedia calls it the Western pattern diet), it is "generally characterized by high intakes of pre-packaged foods, refined grains, red and processed meat, high-sugar drinks, candy and sweets, fried foods, high-fat dairy products (such as butter), eggs, potato products, and corn products (including high-fructose corn syrup). Conversely, there are generally low intakes of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, nuts, and seeds."
It's generally agreed-upon to be unhealthy, but how to move away from it is a much harder question. Capitalism, food deserts, willpower, etc etc all get talked about. But regardless of whether or not it's a good thing, how SAD is your diet?
Photo taken from https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/Walmart_Wenatchee.jpg
Tbf the image shown is the snack aisle, but other aisles also exist like with meats, fruits, veggies, milk, etc. It's possible to eat healthy by purchasing food from a grocery store, though not so easy - it takes willpower and discipline, and knowledge, and money - and even more, if you grew up eating unhealthy, then it's even all the more difficult to turn that around to do differently.
Trader Joe's is amazing:-). I highly recommend it if there is one anywhere remotely near someone, and even if there is not then to travel some distance to stock up occasionally. At least in comparison to a grocery store aisle such as shown in the picture, though food from local farmers is surely even better (and I dunno about Whole Foods - probably better still, just perhaps not worth selling a kidney to purchase?).
I estimate my SADness at perhaps 50%, which took enormous effort to even come this far, and it works for me for now. A fruit or sometimes two a day, veggies and beans, even a low level of candy to feed my soul, though I weaned myself off of many forms of that.
Hrm, perhaps everything in moderation, including the practice of moderation itself!? :-P