A doctor gives Ford Motor Co. some good advice:

Like an addict driven into bankruptcy by a costly habit, everyday Americans are now spending a fortune on legal drugs, doctor visits and tests. It is time to wake up and smell the crisis.

If Ford aims to compete, it needs to regain its edge. As a doctor and nutrition researcher, I would like to make a modest suggestion.

At breakfast, let’s toss out the bacon and eggs and cook up a big bowl of oatmeal. Top it with cinnamon and raisins, not cream and sugar. At lunch, make it a veggie burger or vegetable stew. At dinner, top that pasta with marinara, not Alfredo sauce.

Many Americans already are breaking the meat habit to cut their cholesterol, lose weight or build their stamina. As a group, vegetarians are slim. An average meat-eater can easily trim away 20 pounds or more by switching to a plant-based diet.