American’s Food Consumption Changes…Good or Bad?
Over the past few decades there have been fundamental changes in our food consumption and our overall lifestyles. Do you eat differently today than when you were a kid? Most would say yes. Do you eat out more and less at the family table than in the past? Most would agree that “together time” at the dinner table is a rare event these days. Do you eat more convenience foods? With our seemingly busy lives, we turn more towards convenience because, well, it’s there.
It is interesting to see how America’s food consumption patterns have changed over time. Are these changes for the good? Hardly. Read some of these staggering statistics and you can decide for yourself.
How Things Have Changed:
EGGS – In 1909 each person in the U.S., on average, ate 300 eggs per year. In 2010 that number has dropped to 247, and the rise in “processed eggs” should get you to sit up and take notice. We have all heard the campaign about eggs and cholesterol, while this may be true, how about the really good things about eggs? Eggs are one of the few foods that are a naturally good source of vitamin D. This plays a vital part in calcium absorption, helping to form and maintain strong bones. Eggs also pack a whopping 6 grams of protein accompanied with only 80 calories. What do we typically eat for breakfast now? Carb laden foods have been swapped for the so called “bad egg”.
MILK – In 1945 milk topped the list of beverage choices at 45 gallons consumed per person for the year. As other drinks gained popularity milk started slipping in the ranks. By 1998, milk consumption hit an all-time low down to only 22 gallons per year/person. That is HALF of what it was in the 40s. While milk’s arch nemesis, SODA, rose from 10 gallons/person that year soaring up to nearly 60 gallons in more recent years! Now you tell me, is this a good change?
GRAINS – Grains are an essential part of our diet. According to the food pyramid, we should consume more whole grains than anything else. In 1909 individuals ate, on average, 300 pounds of grain per year, but that number has plummeted by over 100 pounds per person by 1998 while our waistlines have expanded.
SUGAR – Added sugar is a drug and horrible for your body! We know that. Still, the amount of added sugar has risen from 82lbs in 1909 to a whopping 156 lbs. today. Do you know how much sugar that is? That is 31, 5 lbs. bags for each one of us. Yes, it tastes really good, but this is what sugar can do to your health; promotes skin aging, causes cancer, contributes to obesity, weakens eyesight and this list goes on and on! In 2003 both the United Nations and World Health Organization released a new guideline that sugar should only account for 10% of daily calorie intake that’s just 200 calories based on a 2000 calorie per day diet. The American diet far exceeds those levels.
CALORIES – In 1909 the average calories consumed averaged 2,220 per person. Today that number has jumped to 2,700! That adds up to a lot of extra pounds at the end of the year. Why this increase? For one, Americans eat more cheese than ever before. In 1909 4 lbs. of cheese was average, and today 32lbs. WOW! We sure do eat a lot of pizza! We also consume more fruit juice than ever before, which adds to the sugar increase. And our carb intake has jumped from 389 grams to 490 grams per day. With almost every number going up the only way for our scales to go is up! This is why our teen obesity rate has increased from 5% to 17%. And even more alarming, one in every three adults is now obese.
So now, what do you think? Are these changes for the good? I think not! We all need to look at these statistics and decide, what role do I want to play in our future? We all need to look at our own consumption habits and what we are teaching our children. We need to worry about what we eat and how it impacts our life not only today but tomorrow as well. If these numbers keep rising where will we be in the decades ahead?
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