Americans Are Not Consuming The Most Nutrient-Dense Foods

This cross-sectional study used data from the 2001-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to identify the major dietary contributors to food group intake in the U.S. population.

Researchers determined the proportion of contribution each subgroup had to its MyPyramid food group and the contribution of specific foods to the subgroups of oils, solid fats, and added sugars.

For example, in the vegetable group, dark green vegetables, orange vegetables, and legumes comprised 6%, 5%, and 6% of the total, respectively – well short of recommended levels. Intake of whole grains was only 10% of the total – far below the recommendation that half of all grains be whole. More than 60% of the milk group servings came from fluid milk (39.5% reduced fat milk; 26.1% whole milk, 15.9% skim milk), about one third from cheese (36%), and the remaining from yogurt (2%). Forty-seven percent of discretionary calories were contributed by added sugars and 44% by solid fats.

The authors conclude, “Americans do not, in general, consume the most nutrient-dense forms of basic food groups, instead consuming foods that are high in solid fats and added sugars.” The authors say the foods that contribute most to discrepancies between recommendations and actual intake are sweetened carbonated beverages and other sweetened beverages, grain-based desserts, non-skim dairy products, and fatty meats. They encourage health professionals to educate individuals about making appropriate choices within food groups, rather than focusing on achieving a certain number of servings from each food group.

[Bachman JL, et al., J Am Diet Assoc, 108: 804-814, 2008]