The top 10 sources of calories in the United States diet don’t come from healthy foods.
We know what we should be eating—dark green, leafy veggies; legumes; fruits; whole grains and low-fat dairy products—but only about one-fourth of us make these healthy eating choices. Instead, our diets are chock-full of added sugars, refined grains, saturated fats, sodium and a boatload of calories. In fact, Americans are eating more calories than ever, according to a report from the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, and the high percentage of the population that is overweight or obese (more than two-thirds of all adults and nearly one- third of all children and youth in the U.S. are overweight or obese) suggests this overconsumption is the culprit.
Just what are we eating that’s so high in calories? Check your grocery list to see if any of the items you just bought are on the no-no list, below.
Top 10 sources of calories in the U.S. diet:
- Grain-based desserts (cakes, cookies, donuts, pies, crisps, cobblers, and granola bars)
- Yeast breads
- Chicken and chicken-mixed dishes
- Soda, energy drinks, and sports drinks
- Pizza
- Alcoholic beverages
- Pasta and pasta dishes
- Mexican mixed dishes
- Beef and beef-mixed dishes
- Dairy desserts
