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While doing some research for an upcoming story, I actually took the time to read through the USDA's 2010 Dietary Guidelines. I always wrote it off as bunk, associating it with the sad old outdated food pyramid. But there is good stuff in it. Really. Helpful, practical stuff like insight on what nutrients we need to eat more of (potassium, vitamin D, fiber), and what to cut down on (sodium, refined grains).
It also contains loads of interesting statistics. Some were surprising, like the chart on page 12 of the "Top 25 Sources of Calories Among Americans Ages 2 Years and Older." I guess I didn't think the top source of calories in our diets was doughnut-type foods. Here are the top 10 for people over 19:
1. Grain-based desserts ("Includes cake, cookies, pie, cobbler, sweet rolls, pastries, and donuts")
2. Yeast breads
3. Chicken and chicken mixed dishes
4. Soda/energy/sports drinks
5. Alcoholic beverages
6. Pizza
7. Tortillas, burritos, tacos
8. Pasta and pasta dishes
9. Beef and beef mixed dishes
10. Dairy desserts
Funny point of irony: Salad dressing is number 25, but vegetables and fruits don't make the list, other than in the form of "Fried white potatoes" (number 16) and "Fruit drinks" (number 24, not to be confused with 100 percent fruit juice, its own item).
And kids? Pizza and desserts are king. The top 10 for children and adolescents 2-18:
1. Grain-based desserts ("Includes cake, cookies, pie, cobbler, sweet rolls, pastries, and donuts")
2. Pizza
3. Soda/energy/sports drinks
4. Yeast breads
5. Chicken and chicken mixed dishes
6. Pasta and pasta dishes
7. Reduced fat milk
8. Dairy desserts
9. Potato/corn/other chips
10. Ready-to-eat cereals
Does this reflect your eating patterns at all? I will admit I am probably guilty of the "alcoholic beverages" calorie factor.
Wow that looks really good dude.
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I think my top calorie count would come from fries/ potato chips/ tortillas if they were all a single category, even though they're a weekly food and salad is a daily food. Most of us don't think in terms of calories but volume. Salads are naturally going to be low on this list, no matter how much of it we eat because they don't have many calories. I eat a lot more omelets and rice and far fewer...+READ
I think my top calorie count would come from fries/ potato chips/ tortillas if they were all a single category, even though they're a weekly food and salad is a daily food. Most of us don't think in terms of calories but volume. Salads are naturally going to be low on this list, no matter how much of it we eat because they don't have many calories. I eat a lot more omelets and rice and far fewer baked goods, but otherwise this list is intuitive enough.-COLLAPSE
"Interesting statistics" is an oxymoron.
Aside from alcohol and perhaps pasta, the list doesn't reflect my habits at all. But I think it does reflect the average American's, judging from the numbers of obviously overweight people of all ages and income brackets you see in the course of a day.
People sure do like their donuts. I know I do. But I'm planning on seeing the new movie coming out this month: Forks over Knives (2011) Directed by Lee Fulkerson. Synopsis: Examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting our present menu of animal-based and processed foods. In limited release May 13,...+READ
People sure do like their donuts. I know I do. But I'm planning on seeing the new movie coming out this month: Forks over Knives (2011) Directed by Lee Fulkerson. Synopsis: Examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting our present menu of animal-based and processed foods. In limited release May 13, 2011.-COLLAPSE
If you think about the number of calories in those "grain-based desserts" as compared to vegetables and fruits, it makes complete sense. Consider how much lettuce (at 6 calories/cup) or apples (72 calories/1 medium apple) you would have to eat to equal ONE donut (198 calories/1 medium donut).
I've been a grocery cashier. I can vouch that people do eat this way.
Of course it doesn't represent most readers of Chow. We tend to be people who are more interested in better food, quality and caloric. But while none of the foods listed are bad by themselves - an occasion slice of pizza or a potato side dish is fine, it's making them a daily dietary mainstay that makes them dangerous.
I'll cop to an alcohol drink but I've never had an energy drink
It doesn't represent me but sadly I think a lot of people eat this way. Processed foods are the worst thing you can eat.
No. Not at all. I am VERY Conscious about what I consume. I am a vegetarian, I eat organic, I have a gluten intolerance, I stay away from processed amd refined foods and limit my dairy intake. This definitely does not a reflection of my diet. But I know many people who do eat like that. At the same time, I know a growing amount of vegetarian, vegans and people turning to organics.
Should probably keep in mind that things high on the list are high in calories, while fruits and vegetables are relatively low in calories. So while these lists do contain many "unhealthy" foods and I do believe that they probably make up a significant portion of American diets, it makes perfect sense that high calorie foods would make up the list of top sources of calories. If Americans were...+READ
Should probably keep in mind that things high on the list are high in calories, while fruits and vegetables are relatively low in calories. So while these lists do contain many "unhealthy" foods and I do believe that they probably make up a significant portion of American diets, it makes perfect sense that high calorie foods would make up the list of top sources of calories. If Americans were getting most of their calories from carrots, I would be shocked.-COLLAPSE