Humans are creatures of habit, and more often than not, that saying applies to the foods we eat on a regular basis. We eat what we like, what makes us feel happy, what makes us feel healthy, and so on.
Maybe we choose these foods because it is something we grew up eating or it is just what we like, but a lot of the times, these common foods are overlooked. People do not know a lot about them, yet they consume them everyday.
According to data from the United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service (USDA ERS) the diet of the average American is far off from the government’s recommendations, consuming far more eggs, meat, nuts and grains that we are supposed to.
More specifically, in terms of categories, chicken is the most popular meat, refined sugars are the most popular sweetener, cheese is the most popular dairy product, potatoes and tomatoes are the most common vegetables, and apples and oranges are the most popular fruits.
Naturalvert has a goal to not only provide our customers with great products, but to also educate and spread knowledge about food in general.
With that in mind, here are 4 facts about some of the most popular and overlooked foods in the American diet.
1. The United States is the world’s largest producer of poultry and second largest exporter of poultry.
This fact is also according to USDA ERS records. While the debate of whether or not this industry is sustainable for the environment and for animal safety, there is no denying the fact that poultry, especially chicken, is a large portion of American diets.
2. According to a 2018 article from Huffington Post, the most popular cheeses in the U.S. are no longer from America.
More specifically, the top 10 cheeses in America are now:
1. Italian (like Parmesan or Pecorino)
2. American (like Cheddar and Monterey Jack)
3. Processed Cheese
4. Neufchatel and Cream Cheese
5. Cottage Cheese
6. Swiss
7. Hispanic (like Cotija)
8. Muenster
9. Feta
10. Blue and Gorgonzola
3. Apples are the most varied food plant in the world, Huffington Posts reports.
Rowan Jacobsen, an apple expert, claims that in the past there were over 16,000 different types of apples. Now there are just under 2,500 types.
Studies also show that apples are incredibly nutritious. According to Women’s Health Magazine, apples are lower in sugar, contain high levels of soluble fiber, and can potentially help lower your bad cholesterol.
4. The availability of corn products more than doubled between 1997 and 2017, according to USDA ERS data.
Still not the most popular grain, falling short behind wheat, the popularity of corn and corn products has grown immensely. 12.2 pounds of corn products were available per person in 1997, whereas in 2017 data reported 35.2 pounds.
Some say corn is not healthy, while others argue the opposite. In terms of unprocessed corn, there are many benefits. Where the concerns lie are within corn being used for filler and as high fructose corn syrup.
To read more about the development of corn within our food industry, read this article from The Washington Post.