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A look at how Americans eat gives us some idea of the problem


A look at how Americans eat gives us some idea of the problem: 51 percent of our calories come from processed foods, 42 percent from meat, eggs, or dairy, and a paltry 7 percent from vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds, "foods that prevent disease and are optimum for overall health." (3) By comparison, early humans obtained 65 percent of their food energy from a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. (4) Government surveys consistently confirm that Americans aren't eating anywhere near the government's daily recommended 5 to 9 the servings of fruits and vegetables. (5) And our favorite vegetable? French fries. (6)

Source: Michele Simon, Appetite for Profit, 2006, introduction

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