Nutrition in the USA:
Where we are now &
Where we need to be
Mary-Jo Sawyer, RD
March 10, 2016
http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/
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Where we are now…
Most Americans eat too
much sugar, saturated fat,
& sodium
50% meet or exceed grain &
protein recommendations
75% of Americans do not eat
enough vegetables, fruits, &
dairy
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Many of American’s eating patterns are
too high in calories. The result:
2/3 of adults,
1/3 of children & youth
are overweight or obese
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Too much sugar, fat, sodium
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Wendy’s four for $4.00 value meal
Calories Protein Sodium
Junior Bacon
Cheeseburger
4 piece chicken nuggets
Medium French fries
Medium Coca-Cola
330 19
180 10
420 6
320 0
1250 35
850
390
420
70
1730
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Adequate grain intake, but
too many refined grains
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Shift to half of all grains WHOLE GRAINS
• Whole grain breads, rolls, bagels, crackers
• Whole grain ready-to-eat breakfast cereals and
oatmeal
• Whole grain pasta, and brown rice
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Americans get enough protein, but not the right
kind, especially men and boys
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Dietary Guideline recommendations:
Vary the protein!
• A variety of protein foods, including seafood, lean
meats and poultry, eggs, legumes (beans and
peas), and nuts, seeds, and soy products
• Enjoy seafood twice weekly in place of other
proteins
• (Reduce overall intake red and processed meats)
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Americans are short on fruits, vegetables,
low fat dairy & legumes
Dietary Guidelines
• Increase low fat dairy sources of protein (milk, cheese, yogurt)
• Increase fruits and vegetables at meals and snacks
• A variety of vegetables from all of the subgroups—dark green,
red and orange, legumes (beans and peas), starchy, and other
My recommendations:
• Reduce red meat intake
• Use more vegetarian proteins
• Eat out less, especially Fast Foods
• Cook at home more
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Healthful eating plans
There’s more than one way to eat to meet these
recommendations:
• Adopt a healthier U.S. eating style
• Vegetarian diet
• Mediterranean diet
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Mediterranean diet
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Americans need to take a page from
the world’s eating habits
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How Americans’ eating habits affect those of
immigrants
• Smoking, drinking, high-calorie diets, sedentary lifestyles
• Availability of food, especially inexpensive fast food, large
portions
• Eating out = sign of success/affluence
• Working long hours, less time to cook = convenience of
eating out
• Prior high fiber, less meat (opposite in USA)
• Adapting “American” eating habits to fit in more
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How Immigrants’ eating habits affect those of
Americans
Sampling of Food Festivals in Richmond
Taste of Ghana
Richmond Vegetarian Festival
Filipino Festival
Greek Food Festival
Church Hill Irish Festival
Asian American Celebration
Lebanese Food Festival
Taste of India
Richmond Italian Festival
Que Pasa Festival (Virginia’s Latin American Communities)
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Copyright free images courtesy of
http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/
Blue USA map (David Castillo
Dominici)
White bread (bplanet)
Doughnuts, bran flakes (Serge
Bertasius Photography)
Corn flakes (rakratchada torsap)
Spaghetti (Suat Eman)
Pizza, high protein food collage
(KEKO64)
Brown rice (SurisakiStocks)
Whole grain bread (phasinphoto)
Fruits in a basket (marin)
Other Websites:
www.wendys.com
Vegetarian/Vegan Diet Pyramid
Mediterranean Pyramid
http://oldwayspt.org/
International year of the pulse
http://http://iyp2016.org/
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Date
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References
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of
Agriculture. 2015 – 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 8th Edition.
December 2015. http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/
http://www.fao.org/pulses-2016/recipes/
Guendelman MD1, Cheryan S, Monin B. Fitting in but getting fat: identity
threat and dietary choices among U.S. immigrant groups. Psychol Sci.
2011 Jul;22(7):959-67
Tavernise, S. “The Health Toll of Immigration.” The New York Times 19
May 2013, New York ed.: sec A1, Print.
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For more information:
Mary-Jo Sawyer, RD
Outpatient Nutrition Clinic
VCU Health
804-828-0970
mary-jo.sawyer@vcuhealth.org
Practical Nutrition Column
Wednesday Food Section of the
Richmond Times Dispatch
maryjosawyer@ymail.com
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