Comments on: What We Eat in America: Latest Info

By: Alessandra Barbadoro

Alessandra Barbadoro — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:57:49 +0000

I wonder how much of those calories are prepared and then thrown in the garbage. Big portions mean big eaters, but they also mean big wasters.

By: Sheila

Sheila — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 20:01:35 +0000

I am constantly struck by what I see in the carts of people checking out at the grocery store. I would love to do a photo montage of the cart contents of all the shoppers in a day at our local big box store. It would be an amazing collection of junk food, more junk food, and little healthy food.

By: my year without

my year without — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:28:40 +0000

Thanks for this information and the links!

By: Janet Camp

Janet Camp — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:18:57 +0000

susanne – you are so right! Only through journaling did I finally realize how much I was overeating (for me anyway)! Only by measuring everything and continuing to write everything down (and no eating out) was I able to finally shed the 45 lbs I had accumulated since the birth of my last child (20 years ago). I had always thought that I was just somehow “cursed” with fatness as I didn’t think I was overeating because I mostly ate healthy food. I didn’t really add up all the snacks that weren’t so healthy or realize that I could easily take in double or triple portions. Nor did I realize just how many calories are in a bit of ice cream or how far you have to run (let alone walk) to burn it off!

Once I did a lot of research about calories (much thanks to Ms. Nestle), and measured and counted everything and actually walked two to three miles almost every day, the weight came off and has stayed off with constant vigilance. Also, the diabetes is gone and the blood pressure is almost normal requiring only a very small dose of generic meds, not the expensive stuff I used to need.

I’ve tried getting my diabetic (type 2) husband to start journaling, but he is too afraid (because he knows what it will show) to face up to his overindulgence. I have to go pick up his metformin today; maybe when he goes on insulin he will reconsider.

By: susanne

susanne — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:24:33 +0000

the other day i was saying to my husband how well i did eating for that day. i told him i ate 3 meals and did not even have a snack. he said, “that half a hamburger and potatoes i left you was not a snack?” i totally forgot that i had eaten that.

this is why journaling works so well for people who want to lose weight. people do not realize how much they eat until they are forced to account for everything they put in their mouths.

By: Karin

Karin — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:00:53 +0000

I’d be curious to know what the median caloric intake is considering the outliers can be extreme. Do you have data on that?