Potatoes
and tomatoes are more than half of veggie consumption in America Published
September 23, 2015.
Potatoes
and tomatoes make up half of all the vegetables Americans eat-and are often
eaten in the form of french fries and ketchup. For some, french fries and
ketchup are a favorite combination, but according to federal data, french fries
and ketchup are America's favorite veggies. What, you say? French fries and
ketchup aren't veggies. But researchers at the Department of Agriculture's
Economic Research Service say potatoes and tomatoes make up half of all the
vegetables Americans eat-and are often consumed in the form of french fries and
ketchup or other processed foods. "Americans consume a lot of a certain
two vegetables, instead of having a good variety," Jeanine Bentley, an
analyst at the Department of Agriculture and author of a new report told NPR.
In 2013, 115.6 pounds per person of white potatoes were available for Americans
to eat - a whopping two-thirds of which were consumed in the form of french
fries, potato chips and other frozen or processed potato products, the report
indicated. The report stated that tomatoes accounted for 22 percent of the
vegetable consumption, of which 65.9 pounds per person of tomatoes were
processed in a variety of unhealthy ways - including canned tomatoes, tomato
sauces, ketchups, or were used as an ingredient in processed stews and soups.
"Researchers found that instead of eating vegetables in their simple,
unadorned state, Americans often eat vegetables prepared in ways that add
calories and sodium and remove dietary fiber," Bentley said. The upside is
that people are eating a wider variety of vegetables than they were 40 years
ago, and fresh lettuce was the third most consumed at 25.5 pounds per person, according
to the report. But overwhelming, people keep coming back to the fat and sugar
laden processed foods which health experts warn actually deprives people of a
variety of nutrients.
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